Alice J. Stapel

Alice J. Stapel, of New Berlin, WI, passed away on January 04, 2025. Alice was born on August 13, 1931 in Crandon, WI to Amy and Lester Grandine as one of their seven children.  Alice was the last surviving sibling. She was preceded in death by her husband William E. Stapel and daughter Lori Galioto.  She is survived by her daughter, Lynne Maass, and son, Jeff Stapel (wife Valerie) and six grandchildren.

Alice was Valdictorian of her Crandon High School class and graduated at the top of her class from the Milwaukee County School of Nursing. She worked as a Nurse at the Milwaukee County Emergency Hospital until it closed. Then she worked at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex South Division as a Nurse and then in Nursing Administration until her retirement in 1989 to care full time for her husband who was in the end stages of his battle with cancer. 

As an avid lover of the outdoors, Alice enjoyed fishing (catching them, not eating them), canoeing, camping, gardening and bird watching. She was a longtime volunteer and supporter of the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha. Her thirst for lifelong learning lead her to travel through all the states west of the Mississippi and most of them to the east of it including Alaska and Hawaii. Spending time in State and National parks along the way. Her travels took her internationally to Japan, Panama, Hungry, and Costa Rica. 

Alice and her husband Bill were founding members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in West Allis.  She was active serving on the church council and many committees over the 60 plus years of membership there. She was a loving, gracious and dedicated follower of Christ in whose arms she is now resting in.

There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, February 8, 2025 followed by a reception at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 11709 W. Cleveland Ave, West Allis, WI. The service will start at 2:00pm with light refreshments following.  If you are unable to attend the Memorial service in person, the service will be live streamed using the following link: 

https://www.htwa.church/live-stream-worship

In lieu of flowers, please give a memorial gift in Alice’s name to the Friends of Retzer Nature Center. You can go to their website friendsofRetzer.org/donate/ or send a check made out to Friends of Retzer, S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha, WI 53188