Michael Lee
Stauffer, 69, died at his Danville home with loved ones at his side on
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, after a 16-month battle with cancer.
Michael
loved adventure, fun and outdoor recreation, and had the best times while
boating and waterskiing, riding his motorcycle, hunting and building
bonfires in his backyard. One of his great enjoyments was putzing around
spending time at home with his family.
He had an
entrepreneurial spirit and was particularly drawn to anything that might
help him accumulate wealth quickly. This started when he was a youth and
cooked up the idea of selling Ming dog and Spanish soldier statuary for home
gardens. He successfully sold two – both to his mother.
With a mind
like a calculator, he was well-served whether working in the family business
or playing blackjack and running a clinic to share that skill with others.
He was a hard worker and often talked about how he learned the value of work
by shoveling manure for his mom’s horses growing up. Those who knew him,
know what else he said about shoveling manure.
He began
his news media career in advertising sales at the Niles (OH) Daily Times,
and worked with his father and sister Pamela in the newspaper business for
many years. He ran the family’s community newspapers in Noblesville, IN, and
Fulton, MO, as well as The Danville (PA) News where he was the sales
manager, and WTCL radio station in Warren, OH, where he was general manager.
Yet no
matter how he earned his living, he worked to live, rather than the other
way around – a trait we often commented on with wonder and not a little
envy. These breaks between working gigs gave him the time to pursue his
lifelong passion for R&R. If he needed a paycheck, he would get a job, which
is how he wound up working undercover in Warren, OH, and selling stereo
equipment in Sanford, NC.
Wherever he
lived, he invested in the community to make it a better place. There are
many in Danville who know that without his dedication to the Iron Heritage
Festival – and throwing the full weight of The Danville News behind it – the
festival would never have gotten off the ground and had the long, successful
run that it has.
He also
gave many volunteer hours to the annual Danville Fish Derby by the Montour
County Sportsmen Working for Kids and the local chapter of A.B.A.T.E. of
Pennsylvania. And yes, that was him driving his truck in a monkey mask while
pulling a trailer full of kids in the Danville Halloween parade.
He always
did things his way and didn’t really give a flip if that was your way or
not. And to all the wait staff at restaurants whom he offended over the
years, we’re sorry. He just really didn’t want any green stuff on his plate
no matter how good those vegetables tasted.
Born April
12, 1951, in Cherry Tree, PA, to LeRoy and Patricia R. Stauffer, he was
preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Douglas.
He valued
loyalty above all and was a faithful husband, son, father, brother, uncle
and friend. He leaves a crater-sized hole in our hearts.
He is
survived by his loving wife, Dolly, of Danville; a daughter, Jessica (Adam)
Moyle of Bend, OR, and his grandson, Breiten Decker; a son, Andrew (Patrick)
Moyle of Royal Palm Beach, FL; three sisters, Pamela Stauffer Christine and
long-time brother-in-law Ed Christine of Lititz, PA, Cynthia Stauffer of
Hillsborough, NC, and Neela Marikkar of Sri Lanka; his aunt, Connie McGarry
of Clearfield, PA; a niece and two nephews. When he married Dolly in 2009,
they blended their families, adding her adult sons, Hance Lowe and Heath
Lowe, Hance’s daughters, Madisen, Alivea and Annabelle of Virginia, and
Heath’s children, Erisa, Keller and Orion of Pennsylvania, who also survive
him.
A graveside
service will be held at 1 pm Sept. 24 at the Episcopal Cemetery in Danville.
Instead of flowers, please honor Michael with a charitable donation to
Montour County Sportsmen Working for Kids, PO Box 297, Danville PA 17821 or
the Danville SPCA, 1467 Bloom Rd, Danville, PA 17821.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Visneski Funeral Home, Inc. 42
West Mahoning Street Danville PA 17821.
Links: Facebook.com/visneskifh
~ Twitter.com/visneskifh ~ www.Visneski.com
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