Joe Godfrey Stadum
June 15, 1940 - February 4, 2016
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Joe Godfrey Stadum in Walnut Creek CA from complications of Multiple Systems Atrophy. He was surrounded by his family in his last days. Joe was a wonderful father, husband, brother, friend, volunteer, hiker, traveler, and lover of outdoor adventures. He was a man of integrity and immense kindness, always going out of his way to be inclusive to all.
Joe was born in Fargo ND to Annabelle Godfrey and Edward Morris Stadum of Moorhead MN. When Joe was 6 months old, the family moved from Duluth MN to Albany CA. Joe graduated from El Cerrito High School in 1958 and from San Francisco State College in 1962 with a B.A. in Business. He later did post-graduate studies at Stanford University. Joe maintained dozens of friendships from his school years.
After serving in the United States National Guard in the mid-1960s, Joe went on to enjoy a career with the following apparel companies: Levi Strauss & Co., Esprit de Corps, and Mountain Hardwear. He also co-owned a MicroAge Computer store in the mid-1980s.
Joe had three children: Joe Michael, Corinne, and Jennifer from his first marriage to Sharon (Schlosser) Skvarla. Joe later married his soul mate and best friend, Mary Alice Pawley, in 1984. Joe and Mary Alice’s adventures spin a marvelous tale of national and international travel, including a two year cross country journey in their Winnebago where they visited over 35 states and 40 national parks.
Upon retirement, Joe was an active volunteer: he was a Board Member of the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation and he served as a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commissioner for the City of Walnut Creek. One of his greatest joys was trail building in the East Bay hills: in and around Mount Diablo with the East Bay Trail Dogs and on several Save Mount Diablo and John Muir Land Trust properties. As Trail Steward for the Rossmoor Trails Club, Joe spearheaded the building of several new hiking trails in the Rossmoor hills.
Joe was passionate about hiking and blues music. He also enjoyed ultra-marathon running, horseback riding, motorcycling, birding, classic cars, golfing, SF Giants and Oakland A’s baseball, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He especially loved attending his grandson’s baseball games and granddaughter’s basketball games.
Joe is survived by: his loving wife, Mary Alice; devoted children, Corinne Heinz and husband David of Port Orchard WA; Joe Michael Stadum and wife Leslie of Windsor, CA; Jennifer Stadum of Helena, MT; and grandchildren Joe Thomas and Alana Machelle. He is also survived by his brother Edward Morris Stadum of San Francisco, CA, niece Molly Garhart Stadum and her husband Nate of San Francisco, CA, and grand nieces Avery Anne and Chase Elizabeth.
To honor his memory, donations may be made to the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, Save Mount Diablo, or the John Muir Land Trust. A memorial will be scheduled in March to celebrate Joe’s life.
“All who wander are not lost.” JR Tolkein