Obituary of Delno Stageman

Niskayuna - Delno F. Stageman, 95, of Niskayuna, passed on to eternal life September 6 at his home. For almost 69 years beloved husband of Alice (Robin) Sanders Stageman & beloved father of Delanne C. Stageman, he is predeceased by his parents, Phillip J. & Martha Heilman Stageman of Randolph, Nebraska; brother Arthur Stageman & sister Leone Stageman Leach. Mr. Stageman was born & reared in Randolph, Nebraska where he graduated local schools & attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He completed his education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln & at Northwestern University, from which he held a Master's Degree in Finance. In his early professional years, Mr. Stageman held several posts, including Assistant Professor of Finance at Clarkson University. He first came to Schenectady in 1935 & was employed by the General Electric Co. in their Business Training Course. He also worked for the American Locomotive Co., after which he was for 22 years Comptroller of Williams Press in Menands. He retired from a similar position at Roland J. Down, Inc. in 1978. He & the former Alice (Robin) Sanders were united in marriage at First Methodist Church in Schenectady on November 2, 1940. Mr. Stageman, an ROTC member while at the University of Nebraska, served in the U.S. Army as Captain, Army Corps of Engineers, in several location. Mr. Stageman authored two books, 'The Sheriff Must Be Raiding The Place' & 'Hitler: Triumphierend Und Kaputt'. The former is the collected colorful & humorous stories of Delno's boyhood in small-town Nebraska. Adventures range from attempts to navigate the school buildings tubular fire escape, to the unexpected results of trying to make root beer at home, to transfixing townsfolk by the use, one night, of a most brilliant home engineered searchlight. The later presents a military record of World War II in Europe. The books distinguishing feature is 116 full-page maps drawn by the author, which detail each geographic feature mentioned in the record of Battlefront progress. Each page of text is faced by its corresponding map. Both volumes have been profiled in Nebraska Magazine & have been warmly received, delighting many readers, both locally & in the Midwest. Mr. Stageman was a member of the Second Reformed Church & later of Westminster Presbyterian Church. At both, he served as Elder & Deacon. His interests included vegetable gardening & he tended a plot at the Schenectady "County Garden" on Hetcheltown Rd. for many years, supplying family & friends with abundant produce each summer. After retirement, summers also found Mr. Stageman enjoying a daily round of golf at The Stadium Club with several similarly devoted golf enthusiasts. Winters, he worked on his two books & also compiled a collection of 365 of his favorite poems, including a number by Mrs. Stageman's late mother, The poet, Priscilla Sanders. Mr. Stageman was a avid reader of World War II, Civil War & other history. He closely followed the fortunes of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team & kept and extensive collection of their games on videotape. Described as a "Perfect Gentleman" by those who met him, he maintained a long tradition of aiding friends & neighbors in need, especially the elderly, driving them on medical & other errands, making nursing home visits & the like. He was also a Literacy Volunteer. Mr. Stageman was utterly devoted to his immediate family, offering unstinting assistance & support of every kind. For this, for his life, they will be forever grateful. In addition to his wife & daughter, he is survived by a niece, Marion Leach Maroney of Tennessee, a grandniece, great grandniece & nephew & several cousins. Mr. Stageman made an Anatomical Gift to Albany Medical College. A memorial service will be announced for a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Community Hospice of Schenectady, 1411 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308.