Virginia Lee Stadelman

1936 - 2024

Virginia Lee Stadelman Virginia Lee (Myers) Stadelman passed away peacefully at home in Elko, Nevada, on Friday March 8, 2024, under the care of Guiding Light Hospice and New Horizon Home Care. She was 87 years old. Virginia was born on September 14, 1936, in Manderson, Wyoming, to Robert (Bob) Rhae and Christine Marie (Stadler) Myers. She spent her early childhood years in the Wyoming ranching communities of Manderson, Hyattville, and Worland. In late 1942 or early 1943, the family moved from Wyoming to Colorado. The rest of her childhood and teenage years were spent living in the Colorado eastern slope communities of Firestone, Frederick, Johnstown, Mead, and Longmont. Virginia graduated from Longmont High School in 1954. Following the death of her father in 1957, her mother moved the family from Longmont to Grand Junction, Colorado, in June or July 1958. During a cattle drive in 1960, Virginia met the love of her life Nicholas James (Jim) Stadelman Jr, and they began dating. On July 24, 1961, Virginia married Jim Stadelman at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Junction, Colorado, in a double wedding ceremony. Two sisters, Virginia and Shirley Myers, married two brothers, Jim and LeRoy Stadelman. This wedding was a joyous celebration amongst approximately 400 guests consisting of family and friends; many of whom would reminisce about it for years. Virginia and Jim were married for 54 years prior to his death in December 2015. Shirley died in September 2019 and LeRoy died in November 2021. Virginia lived on Kannah Creek and in the Grand Junction area for approximately 46 years. After retiring in 2004, Virginia and Jim moved to Elko, Nevada, to live with their daughter Janice. Over the years, her jobs consisted of being a mother and homemaker, a car hop, a bank teller at 1st National Bank, a clerk at Woolworths, a ranch hand when needed to help move cattle or build fence for the Stadelman Herford Ranch on Kannah Creek or a cook for cowboys at the Dot Cow Camp on the Uncompahgre. She also worked for Grand Junction Penny Pitcher, Spartons, Mesa County Social Services, and Center for Independence in the Grand Junction area before retiring. After retiring, she babysat and cared for her great niece Doren and nephew Chance Van Dyke, whom she loved and cherished. Through the years, Virginia was a member of the St Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Junction, Colorado Cowbells, Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club, German American Club, Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, and the Friendship Force. As a member of the Friendship Force, she hosted people from Germany, New Zealand, Russia, Columbia, and Japan. Virginia and Jim were also able to travel to Germany in 1989. She enjoyed meeting and talking to people. Hobbies she enjoyed doing over the years included reading, having family gatherings and picnics, ice skating parties, fishing, camping, rockhounding, Sunday drives, traveling, cooking, making jewelry, crafts of various kinds, flower and vegetable gardening, playing bingo and gambling. She liked to play the slot machines at the casinos. When Grand Junction decided to celebrate its centennial by doing a skit/play called "The Grand One Hundred 1882-1982", Virginia was one of the first people signed up to participate, try her hand at acting, and have fun. She also recruited other family members to participate. Virginia is survived by her son James Stadelman of Pasco, Washington; daughter Janice Stadelman of Elko, Nevada; brother Wesley (Renee) Myers of Greeley, Colorado; Uncle Leo (Mary Jane) Stadler of Brighton, Colorado; sister-in-law Shirley Myers of Mancos, Colorado; sister-in-law Betty Stadelman of Grand Junction, Colorado; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Robert (Bob) Myers of Cortez, Colorado; sisters Luella Fields of Richfield, Kansas; Shirley (LeRoy) Stadelman of Grand Junction, Colorado; Marion (Tony) Appelhanz of Montrose, Colorado; brothers-in-law Orville and Vic Stadelman of Grand Junction, Colorado; and brother-in-law Alvin Stadelman of Winter Park/Fraser, Colorado. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Catholic Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. Interment will follow the mass at the IHM columbarium. Funeral arrangements have been handled by Burns Funeral Home Inc in Elko, Nevada, and the obituary is also available on their webpage.