Robert Stager

Robert Lee (Bobby Lee) Stager was born "in a wet year in Nowata County, Oklahoma. The Doctor had to come out to the house by boat because the creek was high..." That was how he would begin telling the story of his life to friends and family. He was born June 12, 1923 and passed away May 11, 2017 in Tyler, Texas. He was welcomed home by the love of his life, wife Gertrude Stager, his parents Charles and Anna Elizabeth Stager, brothers Charles and Don Stager, Sisters Wynne Conner, Ruth Brown, and Marjie Smith, great-grandson Nehemiah Stager, nephew, Ronnie Smith.

Robert grew up on an oil lease in Northeastern Oklahoma. He was the fifth of seven children (4 girls & 3 boys). He attended public school and graduated from Lenapah High School in 1941 and joined the Navy in 1943. He served as a Gunner's Mate 3rd Class on Victory and Liberty ships during World War II. He even saw action defending against Japanese kamikaze air strikes late in the war at Leyte in the Phillipines. He processed out of the Navy at Camp Wallace and began his civilian life in Galveston County.

He married his wife of 66 years, Gertie, on October 23, 1948 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Galveston and they lived in various houses that he built around the county in Clear Lake Shores, La Marque, Hitchcock and Texas City where they raised their five children. He began his career as an operator at Pan American Oil in April 1947. His career spanned almost 39 years at Amoco but he only had to work a little over 36 of them due to strikes over the years. His last years at Amoco he spent as a welder in the welding shop where he was an esteemed member of the West Wall Art League and would answer to the nick names of "Lightning" and "Big Foot".

Robert and Gertie joined Peace Lutheran Church in Texas City in 1949 and were lifelong members. Bob served the church as a trustee and had many building projects from wood or metal to help the church in its mission to serve Christ. He built the church's children's playground, backstop for the baseball field, cabinets and shelves for the Braille room, rolling storage cabinets in Education Building and altar flower stand. Bob's building didn't stop with the church, many times the request would come from his lovely "Frau" Gertie who would ask, "Bob, Can you build me one of these…?". He was always willing to oblige building anything from an addition to the house to a backyard pergola to a china cabinet.

He will always be remembered for his gentle nature, humble ways, humorous story-telling, and competitive card and domino playing. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will probably always remember him for participating in hide and seek with them at family gatherings. He is survived by and lovingly cared for, for 7 1/2 years by his daughter, Carol Casper and son-in-law, Jerry Casper of Lindale, Tx. James and Deborah Stager of Kountze, Tx. Sandra and Robert Johnson of Deer Park, Tx, Elizabeth and Marty Eaton of Fort Mohave, Az, Karl Stager and Sudie Kelso of Texas City and sister, Ann Adams of Santa Fe, Tx.

Grandchildren are Phil and Janice Stager of Beaumont, Tx, Jeremy and Renee Casper of Hallsville, Tx, Jennifer and Scott Watson of Longview, Tx, Andy and Amber Stager of Lumberton, Tx, Lauren and Jay Maden of Ellicot, Md, Christopher Benso of Deer Park, Tx, Joy and Adam Glanville of Houston, Tx, Eric and Priscilla Eaton of Katy, Tx. Great-Grandchildren are Chloe and Nicholas Crouch, Jonah and, Austin Casper, Peyton and Karsyn Watson, Felicity Fry, Daniel Stager, Alexa Riley, Brendan, Braelyn, Blacie Fenter , Archer Eaton and Dessie Jagneaux.

Special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ana Rotkiewitz who lovingly cared for him like family, Dr. Russell Bell of Lindale, Guardian Angel Home Health Care of Santa Fe, AMED Hospice and Stacy Villareal of Texas City, Paradigm of Tyler, Bridgeway Health Services of Tyler, Pathways Program, Hospice of East Texas and Home Place Facilty, the Lindale Fire Dept and Hospice nurse, Judy Harper. We are forever grateful to his night care-givers; Brittni and Jon Jenkins, Carolyn Coleman, and Dorthy and Rob Sir Louis.

For those who wish to make a memorial contribution, checks can be made out to Peace Lutheran Braille W.C. #52 and sent to: Peace Lutheran Church9111 Emmett F Lowry Expressway, Texas City, TX 77591.

Pallbearers are Robert's Grandchildren and Honorary Pallbearers are Kenneth Reinsch, Eddie Krenz, Arthur Janecka, Wayne Doss and Don Wiggins.

Visitation will be Monday, May 15, 2017 at 11:30am at Emken-Linton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, TX 77591, the Funeral Service officiated by Ottis Jarrell will begin immediately after the visitation at 1:00pm in the Chapel of Emken-Linton Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at Hayes Grace Memorial Park and officiated by Jim Stager.

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