James E. Stahel

James E. Stahel, age 82, passed away on August 5, 2026, at the Veterans home in Union Grove, WI. He was born July 8th, 1944, in Missouri and raised in St. Paul, MN by parents, John and Esther (nee. Nielsen) Stahel. James proudly served in the US Army from 1962-1965 in Germany. Following his military service, he pursued and earned a BA in International Relations at the University of Minnesota. He worked as a sales rep for Control Data Corporation, Sweetheart Cup, Occidental Life Insurance, and later as a certified financial planner, through various agencies and independently through his company Stahel Financial Planning, Ltd.

James had a passion for sports, most notably for baseball (his love), as well as basketball, football, hockey, racquetball, and golf. In 1962, he tried out for the Minnesota Twins as a pitcher, and although he did not make the team, he was known to have a mean curveball, and knuckleball. He shared his love of sports, teaching his child, MaryAnn, how to throw, catch, hit, and shoot baskets.

James is survived by his former wife, Heide Stahel (nee. Lackemann), their child, MaryAnn (Todd) Dolezal (nee. Stahel); his former wife, Nancy Stahel (nee. Siddle), stepchildren, Jason (Holly) Teeter and Sarah (Steven) Lanham (nee. Teeter), grandchildren, Alex Sawyer Clooney, Jordan (Jake) Varilek (nee. Dolezal), and Evan (Jenna) Dolezal; step-grandchildren, Madeline and Grace Lanham, Amelia (Jess) Teeter-Gage, Ben Teeter, great grandchildren, Saylor and Crew Varilek, siblings, Robert (Barb) and David (Nancy) Stahel, and many niblings, and friends.

James was preceded in death by his parents, John and Esther Stahel.

A celebration of life will take place at the home of MaryAnn and Todd Dolezal, 135 Maestro Circle, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on September 26th, 2026. General visitation from 1-4pm, military honors and personal tributes at 2:15pm. Attendees are encouraged to wear something from one of Jim’s favorite sports teams (or their colors): Cubs, Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini, U of Minnesota, Twins, Vikings, Dodgers.

In lieu of flowers, donations in James’ honor can be made to Camp St. Croix YMCA of the North: https://www.ymcanorth.org/give