My Father, Kenneth Stolzer Sr., passed away at 2:00 am this morning(9-10-2012).

He was diagnosed with a terminal illness in April of this year. He had been doing fairly well with it until July 22 when he ended up back in the hospital. I took him home on July 23 and stayed with him at his place until arrangements could be made to move him into our house. We moved him in with us on the 28th of July and he remained with us until he passed on last night.

This is the Obituary that will run but it in no way does justice to my Father's life.

Kenneth LaVerne Stolzer Sr., 67, died September 10, 2012 at his home.
A funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday September 24, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Washington. Pastor Judy Hill will officiate.

Ken was born at Kansas City, Missouri on August 15, 1945 to Harvey and Pansy (Boswell) Stolzer. He went to grade school at Eureka and Scruby Schools and was part of the last class to have gone at Scruby. He went to eighth grade and high school at Washington Kansas, graduating in 1963. He attended one semester at Fairbury Junior College 1964.

Ken was united in marriage to Irma Jeanne Doering on November 5th 1963. She preceded him in death on October 12, 1994.

In 1966 Ken moved to Oregon, he graduated from nursing school in Walla Walla, WA in 1973. In 1981, he went back to college to be a correctional health specialist. Ken was one of only 5 nurses in Washington that could write prescriptions. In 1985 he moved to Evanston WY and in 1988 to Lander WY. On June 17, 1995, he married Darlene Hallet and they moved to Douglas WY, returning to Washington, KS in 2001. He continued with nursing until 2006, 35 years providing healthcare, retiring due to respiratory illness. Ken enjoyed Bingo and playing slots at the Casinos.

Preceding Ken in death were his parents; his wife Irma Jeanne; his second wife, Darlene; and sons, Kenneth L. Stolzer, Jr., Patrick L. Stolzer.

Surviving him are sons, Christopher (Mary) Stolzer of Thermopolis, WY, Colin (Bobbie Jo) Stolzer of Washington; daughter, LaRee’ (John) Schaaf of Carpentersville, IL; stepsons, Robert Hiser, Bill (Dana) Hiser of Lander, WY; grandchildren – Dana, Kevin, Christopher Jr., Gilbert, Wolfen, Justin, Jonathan, Sierra; and four step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.

That short obit in now way reflects the measure of his life...

When we took him home from the hospital the Doctors told us 2-3 weeks but my father being the stubborn kind of man he was hung on a bit longer. The first 4 weeks were very good and we were able to take him out and do a few things on his "bucket list". The fifth week put him permanently in a wheel chair and this last week has been very difficult for my Wife, Sons and I. Friday morning was the last time he was out of bed but he was very disoriented and confused, and then everything went pretty rapidly after that he never got out of bed again this weekend and after Friday afternoon he was pretty much unresponsive. Last night his condition changed fairly rapidly and he passed pretty quickly.

I am really sleep deprived, this has been a very difficult experience. I helped take care of my Grandmother when she passed on and then I helped my Father 2 years ago when my Step-Mother died but this is the first time I have ever been the full-time care giver for a dying family member. My wife is in nursing and works at the nursing home in town so she took all of last week off and stayed home to help me(I don't know what I would have done without her) but even with her help it has been extremely difficult at times.

I really don't know what else I can say other than I am grateful that he isn't suffering anymore and that I am glad that I am self-employed and was able to set my business aside(thanks to my very understanding customers) and spend this time with my father.

I think I might be able to sleep some tonight and maybe tomorrow will look a little brighter.

Colin