It feels impossible to write this post and be able to put my feelings into words, but I'm going to do my best.
We miss him so much the heartache is crushing every single day.
He was our rock. He was our joyful, positive, encouraging, loving, hard-working, fun-loving, smart, make-it-happen, dream big, go-big-or-go-home, funny, kind-hearted teddy bear and I do not know how we are going to live without him.
Amanda wrote Brad's obituary and did a wonderful job.
Brad was born on June 6, 1983, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Richard “Dick” and Jeanette (Hilpert) Stahl. He was raised with a strong sense of family and faith that guided him throughout his life. Growing up on the family farm near Potter, Nebraska, Brad graduated from Potter-Dix High School in 2001. He went on to attend Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Bohlmann. They married on June 11, 2005, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hooker, Oklahoma. Together, as partners in every sense of the word, they created a beautiful life filled with laughter, support, faith, and deep love.
A devoted husband and proud father to Lorelei, 17, and Makin, 15, Brad found his greatest joy in his family. He was a steady source of encouragement and patience, always eager to help his children with projects, celebrate their accomplishments, and simply spend meaningful time together. His family was the center of his world. In his youth, Brad enjoyed Odyssey of The Mind (OM), where his creativity and curiosity flourished. That same passion stayed with him, as he later became a devoted coach and mentor, guiding his children and other young minds with patience, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for helping them grow.
A man of faith, Brad was affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and his life reflected a quiet strength and compassion that touched many. Brad graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from Grantham University. A talented software engineer, he approached his work with dedication and integrity. Outside of his career, he embraced life fully and found pleasure in simple, meaningful moments. He loved being out on the golf course, cheering on Nebraska Husker football and going to the movies. More than anything, he cherished time spent with family and friends, creating memories that will be treasured forever.
Brad is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Stahl, and children, Lorelei Stahl and Makin Stahl; his parents, Dick and Jeanette Stahl of Potter, Nebraska; a sister, Sarah Deeds and her husband, Shaun Deeds; nieces Hannah Stahl and Brooklyn Deeds; a nephew, Karter Wittrock; father- and mother-in-law, Art and Debbie Bohlmann of Hooker, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Heather Bohlmann; brother-in-law Arthur (A.J.) Bohlmann; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Brad will be remembered as a bright light who made others feel seen, valued, and loved. His kindness, humor and steadfast devotion to his family leave a lasting impact that will continue to shine through all who knew him.
Some things we loved about him...
How much he loved golf.
How much he loved Husker Football.
How he usually gave two "good mornings", one right when we woke up and the other after his shower.
His optimism.
He would often tell me, "I got this." And he did.
His creative side.
How he loved to teach/coach the kiddos.
His sense of humor.
He would always figure it out.
The words he said wrong. The kids and I made a list. We teased him about it probably weekly.
How he often got emotional during the Husker Football tunnel walk. And pretty much any overcomer sports movie.
How many sacrifices he made for us... He helped with anything techy, took time out of his day to help us when we needed it, and encouraged us to go on adventures while he worked so we could afford the adventures. Once he even dog-sat for Lorelei so she could do a special field trip, and the dog was terrified of him, so he had a ton of trouble getting her back into the crate! (She really owed him for that one!) There are SO many times he sacrificed for us, but these are just a few.
How much he loved his coffee. (It was always one of his highs of the day at supper. Often his low was, "Not having more coffee." It was also typically included in his looking forward to.)
He especially loved movies based on a true story.
His knowledge of random facts.
His out-of-the-box thinking.
His big heart.
His infectious laugh.
Things he used to say we will remember: Go Big or Go Home, Heart Posture, I Love You, Coffee
Some Lorelei Memories: golfing with Watson, date to the Fort Worth rodeo, having similar taste buds for foods, talking on drives about conspiracy theories, movies etc., how much he loved Watson, having a date for breakfast burritos/tacos and then going to Pet Supermarket, backrubs
Some Makin Memories: the golfing bridge shot (Brad hit it off a bridge and it turned out to be a good shot), when Makin finally beat him in a round of golf, their father/son movie nights, Brads enthusiasm during Husker games, him helping teach him how to build structures and brainstorming how to build the card bridge for DI, working out of the house with him while Lorelei babysat, Marvel conversations, golfing The McLemore
My thoughts on our anniversary:
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| A couple of pictures I loved from around our second year married. |
"The reality is that you will grieve forever.
You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it.
You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered.
You will be whole again but you will never be the same.
Nor should you be the same nor would you want to."
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
What people think we grieve:
Our Loved One
What we actually grieve:
Our loved one
Their voice we'll never hear again.
The way they made us feel safe.
Inside jokes only we understood.
The empty chair at family gatherings.
Future plans that will never happen.
Their advice when we didn't know what to do.
The little routines we shared without thinking.
Holidays that will never feel the same.
Their hugs, their scent, their presence.
The version of ourselves that existed when they were here.
"What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us."
~ Helen Keller
We don't stop loving.
We don't forget.
We don't stop hurting.
We don't get over it.
We journey forward
Living, the best that we can.
We hold them in our hearts
Until we're together again.
