Here's to you, Dad!

Gary James Stahl 1947 ~ 2009
Gary James Stahl, Beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle and friend passed away unexpectedly September 25, 2009. He fought a courageous battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and died after complications from a double lung transplant.Gary was born January 12, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Raymond LeRoy Stahl and Mary Yvonne James. He graduated from Olympus High School and attended Utah State University and Westminister College. He married Jolene Welch on June 4, 1970 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a member of the LDS Church. He was a sports enthusiast. His favorites included football, basketball, baseball, fast-pitch softball, pool and golf. He was considered one of the greatest all around athletes to come out of Utah. He earned a football (QB) scholarship to Utah State University following his 1965 graduation from Olympus. Gary is survived by his loving wife, Jolene; children, Kelly (Michelle) Stahl, Gary James Stahl, Jr. and Jaimie (Nathan) Shaw; siblings, Bonnie Vreeken, Robert (Lanette) Stahl, Raymond (Terry) Stahl and Maryanne (Don) Cremer; grandchildren, Ashley, Taylor, Braydon, Rylee, Joie, Kylan, Caleb and Hannah. He is preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and grandparents. A special thank you to all the staff and doctors of Alta View Hospital, Woodland Park Rehabilitation Center, and University Hospital for all you did to help our husband, father, brother, grandfather and uncle. Please join us for a special service in honor of Gary on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 12 p.m. at the Valley View Funeral Home, 4335 W. 4100 So. Friends and family may come for visitation from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. prior to the service. Interment: Valley View Memorial Park.


This is the poem that I found online for the back of my Dad's service program. It's perfect!


Ode To Golf Poem
In my hand I hold a ball
White and dimpled, rather small
Oh, how bland it does appear,
This harmless looking little sphere.
By his size I could not guess
The awesome strength it does possess;
My life has not been quite the same
Since I chose to play this game.
It rules my mind for hours on end.
A fortune it has made me spend.
It has made me curse and cry
I hate myself and want to die
I am promised a thing called ‘par’
If I can hit it straight and far.
To master such a tiny ball
Should not be very hard at all.
But my desires the ball refuses
And does exactly as it chooses
It hooks and slices, dribbles, dies
and disappears before my eyes.
Often it will have a whim
To hit a tree or take a swim.
With miles of grass on which to land
It finds a tiny patch of sand.
Then has me offering up my soul
If it will just drop in the hole.
It’s made me whimper like a pup,
and swear that I will give it up
And take to drink to ease my sorrow.
But “The Ball” knows…
I’ll be back...tomorrow.