Keith M. Stadlman

Keith Maurice Stadlman was a man full of love for his wife, family, friends and faith in our Lord. With Keith, life did not hold the impossible, but the richness of opportunities to be explored and conquered. With this deep passion to experience life through adventures, Keith also had a deep love of people and as his son Noel best states it, "life with Keith was like a life of fellowship."

Keith was born September 24, 1942 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle and grew up with his family in Concrete, WA. After graduating from Concrete High in 1960, Keith immediately felt a call to serve his country and enlisted in the US Navy serving from 1960-1963 on USS Zelima. Following his service Keith began working for Heath Tecna in 1963 and four years later providentially was appointed to Pemco as an agent. It was at Pemco six years later that he met his "honey bunny" and love of his life Jane. Keith, now desiring to own his own company, opened Sound Insurance in Seattle in 1974 and brought his "honey bunny" with him. Together Keith and Jane grew a profitable business that is still operating in Seattle today. However, the best part of the business deal was solidified on May 29, 1976 when he sealed the deal and married Jane, keeping her by his side until his last moments. Together they celebrated life for 32 years.

The husband and businessman was just part of who Keith was to all those who knew him. Prior to meeting Jane, Keith had two sons Noel and Lane. Keith relished in his role as a father, becoming a patient teacher, leader, consistent friend, and ultimate adventure guide. As Lane best states it, Keith took his sons to see and experience parts of the world that many times his sons were convinced no one else had set foot. No mountain was too high, no bellows of the sea were too low and no sea turtle, shark or sting ray were out of the question.

Keith and Jane shared a love for traveling from boating, camping, motorcycle trail riding, cruises and especially their home in Maui, where they spent two months of every year living the hang-loose life of Hawaii. Their adventures started small from an 18-foot open Bayliner boat they motored all the way to Canada, to a 42-foot Corsair Cruise-A-Home named Happy Daze. From a small two bedroom condo in Maui packed with seven family members, to a larger four bedroom home blocks from the beach. To Keith, these luxuries in life were not just for himself. The Lord blessed him with resources to indulge his family and friends. Happy Daze cruised with family in the fishing waters of Alaska, San Juan Islands, Canada and even Lake Washington's log boom for SeaFair. The Maui home became a constant family stomping ground full of sisters and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews, sons and friends. Keith taught as many brave souls as he could to scuba dive, ride the backs of the giant sea turtles, cave dive and excite sharks, snorkel, boogie board, speak Hawaiian, watch the hula girls and hike the hills of Haleakala. To Keith, it was always "the more the merrier!"

Keith's love for the outdoors also stemmed from his upbringing in rural Concrete. For many years he and Jane owned a camper. Keith especially loved taking the camper to Thunderbird Park in Monroe, WA and inviting Jane's extended family on an annual trip. Keith loved the slow times to play board games, swim, putt-putt golf, trail ride on his motorcycles and help his young nieces and nephews roasting marshmallows. Keith and Jane more recently graduated to a 36-foot motor home and continued to travel to Central and Seaside OR, Reno NV and all over Washington with their cat and Jane's parents Bob and Darlene.

In his final days, Keith's love and faith in our Lord was his great comfort. Knowing he was heading to the eternal Kingdom of God, Keith had peace and shared his joy with everyone who came to visit. His mission was to be sure his family knew of Jesus' love for us and His sacrificial death on the cross to give all that proclaimed Jesus is Lord, an eternal life. Keith not only shared his faith with his family, but all who were in earshot of his hospital room. Nurses, doctors and other patients were not spared from Keith's faith as Jane on many occasions shut the door to buffer his hymn signing voice.

Through faith, hope and love Keith now resides with our Lord in eternal peace, awaiting his reunion with his family.