Ralph V. Stagner

Born in 1930, to Vernon and Ella Stagner in Silvis, Illinois. Ralph lived at home until completing undergraduate studies at Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois. Med school followed at U. of Illinois (Chicago) with graduation in 1955.

Internship was served at the Pierce County Hospital in Tacoma, WA, during which time he married Bonnie J. Wallace of Sycamore, Illinois. After serving two years in the USAF in Spokane, the family moved to the Portland area where Ralph began a four-year residency in urology at the U. of Oregon Hospitals (Portland).

The family returned to the Tacoma area where Ralph began practice in 1963. He retired in 1992, after thirty-six years in medicine. After retirement, they motor homed for fifteen years as well as enjoyed hunting, painting, wood working, cooking, boating, and traveling to most of the world’s great places. They were happily married for fifty-nine years and went through life doing most everything together and truly enjoyed one another’s company.

Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, and by his parents. Survivors include their children: Kimberly, Leigh, Scott, and Laura as well as three grandchildren: Evan and Joseph Cilley and Shannyn (Stagner) and her husband Samis Mujkanovic.

Ralph’s personal philosophies of life abound, but mainly he felt on should not take oneself too seriously, that there was humor in each day – be sure to look for it. One should “spend some and save some,” and, lastly, to be joyous about having lived a healthy, happy life during (what he felt) was the greatest time the world has ever known. He achieved all his life’s dreams and was proud to have lived his life in this great country, in this fine state, and especially in Gig Harbor.

A celebration of life will be held June 27th at 2:00 PM at Haven of Rest in Gig Harbor.

Any remembrances can be sent to Planned Parenthood or to the departments of urology at either the UW or U. Oregon.

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