James Stoffel

James Stoffel passed away on June 29, 2020 at 12:35am, peacefully in hospice care with his daughters by his side. Jim was diagnosed with late stage cancer in early June and died a short three weeks later.

Jim was born on July 29, 1940 in Aurora, Illinois to Jacob and Ethel Stoffel and as a youngster growing up in the cold of the Midwest, Jim found a love of speed skating and won ribbons and medals against older skaters in his hometown. After high school, Jim moved West with his family to Phoenix, Arizona. In Phoenix, Jim started his own window washing business, cruised Central Ave with his brother Jake until he met and married Gladys Barry and started a family.

With three young girls in tow, the family moved to Las Vegas in 1970 where Jim started a 30-year career with the Clark County School District as a head custodian.

Jim and Gladys divorced years later but always remained close. Jim remarried/divorced a second time and then met his longtime companion, Charlene. After 30 years of hard work, Jim was able to retire at 60 years old and was fortunate to spend the next 19 years as a happy retiree. Jim and Charlene traveled throughout the US and abroad, spent time with friends, enjoyed dining out and playing at local casinos, Jim loved to watch the NBA but his most cherished times were spent watching his two grandchildren grow up. He loved watching his grandson, Jeff, play baseball from Little League to professional ball and granddaughter, Delaney, throughout her marvelous high school and college theatre career and her 2019 graduation from Loyola Marymount University. “Grandpa Jim” was a very proud grandfather.

A natural athlete himself, Jim was an excellent tennis player, in later years switching to golf. He spent many wonderful afternoons playing with friends, nephews and his son-in law. When our dad reached his 70’s, he turned to his Total Gym to keep in shape and it was important to him because dad loved a good meal and dad loved his sweets!

With the news of his passing, we received an outpouring of love and appreciation for the man we just call Dad. He was described most often as a good man, who was so nice and always kind. Dad was a person that everyone truly loved.

Dad was a wonderful son, brother, father, grandfather and friend and this world has been a better place for the last 79 years, 11 months because of him.

Jim was preceded in death by his father Jacob, mother Ethel, sister Barbara, brother Jake, ex-wife and mother of his children Gladys Moseley, son-in-law Robert Hammel. He is survived by children: Christine Hammel, Lisa Malm (Chris), Susie Stoffel (Peter Stoddard), grandchildren Jeff Malm (Devin), Delaney Malm, and longtime companion Charlene Pagay.

And while we will miss him more than the heart can take, we will forever be grateful that dad was able to live his life, on his terms, in good health for almost 80 years. He lived each and every day like it was his last. He was a content man that laughed and loved and saw the world as a glass half full.

Due to the Covid pandemic a family service will be private and a memorial gathering will be held at a later date.