Contact with Paul Staeheli

Today I opened my Google mail to find two messages from Paul Staeheli.  He has found one of my web sites and wrote to tell me he is the son of Glenn Albert Staeheli and grandson of Paul Staeheli.  His brother is David Staeheli.  Paul has family information which he acquired from Pauline Staeheli (wife of Don Hagen).  I believe Paul will be able to provide family photos to add to the Staeheli family web site. 

This is good news for the new year with the potential to add to our family story.

Sharon and Travis

On October 25th, Dad and I returned to Sharon and Travis' home in Spokane to return the original photo of Caspar Albert Staeheli.  We had a nice conversation about the family and agreed to take a trip together to Addy in the spring to visit the area on Addy Mountain where the Staeheli's used to hunt.  Again, I express my gratitude to Sharon, Travis and Lillian for providing family photos for use on the web site.    

Caspar Albert Photo Restored

Caspar Albert Photo Before Restoration

After Sharon Thompson and Lillian Staeheli loaned me their photo of Caspar Albert Staeheli I contacted Barb Blair at Anew Photo Restoration in Beaverton, Oregon and sent her a digitized image of the damaged photo.  Over a two week period Barb cleaned up the image and repaired missing or damaged portions.  Caspar's face had suffered the most damage so we communicated regularly by email as she completed the restoration. 

The repair is done and I am ordering prints.  The digitized image will be posted on the Staeheli Family website.  Any Staeheli who wants a print can order an 8 x 10 for $2.  or a 5 x 7 for $1.

Restored Photo of Caspar Albert Staeheli

Contact with David Staeheli

Wednesday I was pleased to receive an email from David Staeheli, son of Jack Leroy Staeheli, son of Harry Staeheli whose father was Caspar Hermann Staeheli from Gubsenmoos.  I had met Jack last June when he visited my home in Kennewick.  David lives in Snohomish, Washington with his family and offered to provide detailed information about himself and his family to update the family tree and Staeheli Family of Gubsenmoos website. 

I sent his information to Tienne in Switzerland who is creating the Staeheli family tree which will be available soon.  The tree will trace our family back to a marriage in 1653. 

The Mystery of Peter Staeheli

Buried in a plot next to Caspar Albert Staeheli in the Addy Cemetery is Peter Stahli who I assumed to be a relative.  During our research at the Statesman-Examiner newspaper in Colville September 9 dad and I located articles dated March 19, 1927 stating that Peter had died leaving his estate to his sister in Brien, Switzerland.  The March 26, 1927 Colville newspaper described Peter's burial listing pallbearers.  None of the names is from our family.  I think it is coincidental they are buried next to each other.

Caspar Albert's plot in the Addy Cemetery

There is no evidence in the research Tienne and I have done showing a man named Peter in the Staeheli family.  I conclude Peter was a fellow Swiss who was born in that era, emigrated to the US and farmed in Stevens County for 30 years, may have been known to Caspar Albert but was not related to our family.

Peter's Death Notice



Peter's funeral above Loon Lake News

 Click on the image to enlarge it.  Click twice for maximum size.

Visiting Daphne and Bob

Bob with Luscombe at Boeing Field April, 1947

Sunday, September 19, I drove to Seattle then arranged to visit Daphne and Bob Dempsey who live in Kenmore at the north end of Lake Washington.  My purpose was to return photos which they had loaned me for scanning into my computer.  These were photos of Bob and his brother Burt and their parents, Francis (Franziska Staeheli of Gubsenmoos) and LaVern Dempsey.  Most were photos taken during their gold mining days in Alaska before and after the Second World War.  Bob reviewed the photos with me describing the activity happening in each photo.

Daphne prepared dinner and we enjoyed this meal while talking about recent events.  Bob and Daphne are in generally good health having recovered from recent accidents or illness.  I learned that Bob had a business building cabinets in his parents garage in Wallingford then built a cabinet shop in 1958 in Kenmore.  He operated this shop until 1964 building cabinets for homes developed by Burt and also their sister, Eileen and her husband who were homebuilders.

After WWII Bob had flight training and earned a private pilot license.  His favorite plane was the Cessna 140.  He has considerable experience driving trucks and operating heavy machinery for the Washington Department of Transportation. 

Bob's sister, Eileen, who was born in Priest River, Idaho April 8, 1920(?) passed away June 26, 2010 in Arlington, Washington.  She left a son, Jerry, and a daughter, Sharon.

We talked about arranging a Staeheli family reunion in 2011 and the issue of travel for family living in Western Washington and Eastern Washington. 

I enjoy meeting with Bob and Daphne and look forward to my next opportunity.

Bob 1943/44

Jerry Staeheli

On Friday, September 10, while I was still at dad's home in Spokane we had a visit from Jerry Staeheli who drove from his home in Post Falls, Idaho.  Jerry is a brother of Jack Staeheli from Tieton who I had met June 8 when he came to Kennewick.  They are children of Harold Lawrence Staeheli who was a son of Caspar Hermann Staeheli from Gubsenmoos. 

Jerry lived in Everett, Washington most of his life until about a year and a half ago when he relocated to Post Falls.  He served 10 years in the Navy on submarines.  Jerry has experience selling real estate and is handy doing carpentry and mechanical work.  He shared details of his family which I will present on the Staeheli family website.  Jerry has two adult children: Pamela, who lives in Seattle and James, who is in Cle Elum. 

My dad, sister Beth and I enjoyed this first meeting with Jerry and expect we will get together again and maintain contact through facebook and email.

Dad, Jerry and me