Earl K. Stodden

Earl Kenneth Stodden, age 87, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Cannon Country Senior Living on November 23, 2023. 

Earl was born in Galena, IL, to Leo A. and Louise (Fuchs) Stodden on October 27, 1936. Earl led an adventurous childhood with his older sisters, LaVon and Barbara, and his younger brother, James (Jim). Earl and Jim roamed the town and the hills surrounding Galena as real life Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, riding their bikes down the jailhouse steps, rolling down streets in boxes, swimming in the river, and simply being boys. Earl developed an interest in HAM radio and electronics. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary his freshman and sophomore years of high school, returning to Galena to graduate in 1954. Upon graduation he enlisted with the U.S. Navy. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, he returned home on leave. The day before he left for his new assignment in San Francisco, he went with one of his Navy buddies to a high school Christmas dance at the nearby town of Benton, WI. There began an epic love story-he spied Barbara Farrey across the gym and asked her to dance. It was love at first sight. They danced every dance, Earl denying his buddy the chance to "cut in." The evening ended with Barbara giving her address to the handsome sailor, telling him she would write if he sent his address once he arrived in San Francisco. Through correspondence their romance blossomed, with Earl proposing to Barbara on his second leave home. He was deployed on the USS Currituck in the Mediterranean Sea during the Suez Canal Crisis. Earl was discharged from active duty as an Electronics Technician Second Class in 1957, continuing as a Navy reservist until his honorable discharge in 1962.

Earl and Barbara were married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Benton, WI, on June 21, 1958. They lived in Dubuque, IA, until Earl accepted a computer engineer position with Remington Rand in Philadelphia, PA, later that year. Thus began an adventure that led to them also living in New Kensington, PA, where daughters Charlene and Gayle were born; Omaha, NE; St. Paul Park, MN; Mahtomedi, MN where daughter April and son Earl were born; and finally buying their long-desired farm in Clark Valley, Cannon Falls, MN and welcoming their youngest son, Stephen.

Earl's computer engineering career took him around the world. He worked on many Navy ships, installing and troubleshooting their mainframe computer systems. He also traveled to Hawaii, Arizona, California, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Ascension Island, and Johnston Island. He worked on computers in the Army War Room in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. All the while, he lived humbly, coming home to spend as much time as possible with his family and his beloved bride. Earl retired from Unisys (formerly Remington Rand/Univac/Sperry Univac) in 1995.

Spending time with his kids and grandkids brought Earl endless joy and pride. He shared his love of nature with the family, camping at Fenske Lake, taking canoe trips in the Boundary Waters, sailing the Apostle Islands, walking in the woods, picking black raspberries, making ice cream, and chasing cows... first with his children, and later with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Earl and Barbara shared a love for European travel, especially to Germany. They ensured that all of their children made a trip with them to Europe. Earl also enjoyed skiing, cliff-diving in Hawaii, road-tripping through the mountains, stamp and coin collecting, and farming.

Earl shared his love for our Lord Jesus with all he met, if not with his words, with his servant-like heart. He was a parishioner of St. Pius V Catholic Church and member of People of Praise Christian Community. Earl's faith sustained him through the health trials of the last few years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Barbara Goldwire; grandson, Jason Young; and great-grandson, Brandon Bork.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara; children, Charlene Young of Welch, Gayle Stodden of Grand Forks, ND, April (Michael) Wojahn of Cannon Falls, Earl G. Stodden of Cannon Falls, and Stephen (Stephanie) Stodden of Nerstrand; grandchildren, Laura (Larry) Stephanie, Shelly (Erik) Overholtzer, Jeremiah Young, Nikole Higganbotham, Jessika (Nathan) Lupan, Karilynne (Jake) Cain, Nicolas and Quintin Higganbotham, Alycia (Luke) Roggenbuck, Katrina (Shane) Roper, Michael W. (Rebekah) Wojahn, Gregory Wojahn (fiance Carly Daughtery), Emily, Elias, and Harmon Wojahn, Saundra, Ellie, and Gavin Stodden; great-grandchildren, Kayla (Mitchell) Meyer, Peyton, Brady, and Carter Bork, Autumn Mancilman, Ava Overholtzer, Isabela Lupan, Athena and Guthrie Cain, Killian, Talia, and Dante Roggenbuck, Rowan and Kolbe Wojahn (and baby girl due in February 2024); great-great-grandchildren, Carson and Rylee Meyer; siblings, LaVon Buss and James (Sharon) Stodden of Galena, IL; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his many longtime friends in the People of Praise Community.
 
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Lundberg Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, Nov. 29. at 11:00 am, with visitation from 10:00-11:00 am, at St. Pius V Catholic Church, Cannon Falls. The Mass will be live-streamed and available to view below. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be grandsons Jeremiah Young, Nicolas Higganbotham, Quintin Higganbotham, Michael W. Wojahn, Gregory Wojahn, Elias Wojahn, Harmon Wojahn, and Gavin Stodden.

Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters Laura Stephanie, Shelly Overholtzer, Nikole Higganbotham, Jessika Lupan, Karilynne Cain, Alycia Roggenbuck, Katrina Roper, Emily Wojahn, Saundra Stodden, and Ellie Stodden. 

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in Earl’s service via livestream, you can watch the service on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 11:00 am. It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page and click PLAY to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having troubles with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.