Charlotte Stasser Vaala

Former Goodland, Kansas resident Charlotte Louise Stasser Vaala, 80, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at North Platte, Nebraska.

Charlotte Louise was born in Goodland, Kansas, on August 20, 1935, the daughter of Fern (Amack) and Merrill Emery Clark.  She had a brother Bernard LeRoy Clark. When Charlotte was about five years old, her mother left the family.  As she was growing up, she lived with her father and stepmother Elizabeth, and at times with her grandmother Amanda Clark and her aunt Millie Ballentine.

Charlotte married Fred Stasser in August 1953. They were blessed with two sons, Fred Jr., and Alan.  They farmed northwest of Goodland.  Charlotte and Fred's marriage ended in 1986.  Charlotte continued to live in Goodland and was employed by Social Rehabilitation Services.  She met Roy Vaala, and later married him on July 22, 1995.  They moved to Montivideo, Minnesota, and after living there several years, they moved to North Platte, Nebraska, to be near Roy's daughter Linda and family.  Charlotte was employed as a sales associate at Herberger's Clothing Store in North Platte.

Preceding her in death were her baby sister Patty Jean Clark, her brother Bernard Clark, a half-brother Gary Clark, her mother Fern Amack Grey, her father Merrill Clark, stepmothers Elizabeth Clark and Jewel Clark.

Surviving family includes her husband Roy Vaala;  half-sister Yvonne Clark; her children Fred Stasser and his wife Rachel, Alan Stasser and his wife Susan, Janet Smith and her husband Jim, Ruth Strong and her husband Jim, Nancy Vaala, Susan Vaala, Linda Dishman and her husband Scott, Daniel Vaala and his wife Tami;
granddaughters:  Talia, Autumn, Lisha, Lindsey (Norman), Shandra (Joe), Tiffany (Jacob),  Kristina, Margaret Jo, Mali, Melissa(Adam), Jenny(Brock), Angel(Melvin), Alyssa, Ana, Andrea(Cedrick); great-granddaughters: Claire Charlotte, Natalie, Adriannah, Madeline, Ocean; grandsons: Pon, Pan, Adrian(Bridget);
great-grandsons: Kolin, Tyce, Kaleb, Elijah, Liam, Tevan, Kale, Eli, Payton, Ashtyn, Melvin Jr.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

The funeral will be Monday, May 16, 2016, at 10:30 AM MT, at Calvary Gospel Church in Goodland, with Pastor Randy Payne officiating.  Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.
Friends may share their respects on Sunday, from 6:00 until 8:00 PM MT, at Koons Chapel in Goodland.

Memorials may be designated to the Charlotte Vaala Memorial, and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS  67735-1555.
Online condolences:   www.koonsfuneralhome.com