ALBERTVILLE — Anton “Tony” Edward Stadler passed away peacefully Saturday, June 1, 2024, at  home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home, 300 N. Main Street and prior to the service from 1-2:15 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at the church. Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9141 County Road 101 in Corcoran, Minn., with Pastor Steven C. Briel officiating. Casket bearers will be son-in-law, Barron Cate, grandsons, Carter Cate and Dalton Cate, granddaughter, Allison Cate, and friends, Tim Hamp and Paul Sundholm. Interment with military rites will follow at the church cemetery. Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home in St. Michael is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com

Tony was born May 14, 1947, at home in rural Medford, Minn., son of Edward & Katie (Schweisthal) Stadler. He was baptized on May 25, 1947, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairibault, Minn. Tony grew up on his family’s dairy farm where he learned the value of hard work. He attended Medford Public Schools, graduating in May, 1965.

Tony was drafted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 20, 1966, and did his training at Fort Bliss, Texas and Fort Ord, Calif. In 1967 he was sent to Pleiku, Vietnam and he served there for one year. He was honorably discharged as SGT E-5 on Aug. 29, 1968. Upon returning to Medford he worked at The Faribault Woolen Mill until starting college in June, 1969. Tony was united in marriage to the love of his life, Jan (Ausen), on Aug. 1, 1970, at RoseDell Lutheran Church in Jasper, Minn. He was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on March of 1970. Tony and Jan made their home in Madelia, Minn. for three years when he attended MSU and Jan taught. He graduated from MSU in 1973 with a degree in industrial tech and minor in physical education They moved to Fairmont, Minn. when he got his first teaching job where he taught Industrial Arts and PE. In 1978 he was cut from teaching due to declining enrollment.

He and Jan purchased an award business-Fairmont Awards in 1978. He successfully ran this business for many years until he was called back to teaching in 1997. He continued running the business with help and taught part-time at GHEC until 2002 when he sold Fairmont Awards. His teaching turned into a full-time position along with coaching golf. He was later Dean of Students until 2010 when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Tony and Jan were blessed with one loving daughter, Angela Christine on July 22, 1975. In 2014, they moved to Albertville, Minn. to be closer to her family.

Tony’s loves were first and foremost his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, his profession and his country. He was a problem solver, cook, duck hunter and woodworker. He loved his time with family and friends. He was a true “Miracle Man” having survived esophageal, brain, colon, prostate and melanoma cancers as well as Covid and Parkinson’s disease for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Jan; daughter, Angela (Barron) Cate; his precious grandchildren: Carter, Dalton and Allison; siblings, brother: Mark (Marlene) Stadler; sisters, Sandy Fenske, Ann (Mike) Nelson and Sharon Langerfeld (Andy Colwell); sisters-in-law, Sonja Stadler, Dawn Stadler, Carol (Roland) Klindworth, Marilyn (John) Laulainen and Eileen (Paul) Karow; brothers-in-law, David Ausen, Orrin (Leslee) Ausen and Richard Hackbarth; many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Tony was preceded in death by his father, Edward in 2002; his mother, Katie in 1990; sister, June; brothers, Nick, Ted and Ed; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Holger and Opal Ausen; sister-in-law, JoAnne Hackbarth; and brother-in-law, David Fenske.

The world lost an incredible man, but the memories of Anton “Tony” Edward Stadler will remain in us forever. Cards will reach the family at 5514 Jason Court, Albertville, MN 55301.