Elaine Margaret Stai
Marriages
Howard Berkely Stai - 1940
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - November 7, 2010
Elaine Margaret Stai, 89, died
November 4, 2010 in Grand
Junction, CO.
Elaine was born August 10,
1921 in Eau Claire, WI. She
graduated from Eau Claire High
School (Salutatorian), and attended
Eau Claire State Teacher's
College for two years. She married
Howard Berkely Stai in 1940.
They moved to St. Paul, MN and then to Minneapolis, MN.
Elaine served as Business Administrator and Board Director of
Lightning and Transients Research Institute. LTRI produced artificial
lightning in its St. Paul laboratory and studied its effects on aircraft.
LTRI also chased storms and invited lightning strikes with its
Florida research ship, the Thunderbolt. Elaine retired in 1986. (The
Thunderbolt also retired in 1986 when she was intentionally sunk as
a dive attraction. She now lies intact in 120 feet of water near
Marathon as part of the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Project).
Elaine was active in the Minnehaha Chapter, Order of Eastern Star,
in Minneapolis. She enjoyed ice skating, tennis and golf as a young
woman, and had season tickets to Minnesota Vikings Football and
Minnesota North Star Hockey games for many years. She was a
master at filleting fresh caught fish, had a quick wit, and was an avid
reader. In 2005, she moved to Grand Junction to be near her daughter.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; son, Robert;
daughter-in-law, Linda, and brother, Edward Voss. She is survived
by daughter, Sandi (Knute) Knudson, Grand Junction; grandchildren,
Kelly (Marc Lazzareschi) Knudson, Lafayette, CA; Joanna
Stai Bailey, Burnsville, MN; Charles Stai, Minneapolis; and Deborah
Lazcano-Stai, Roseville, MN; great grandchildren, Austen Stai,
and Laurel and Quinn Lazzareschi; nephews, Stephen J. Smith,
Minneapolis and Frederick Smith, Eau Claire, and nieces, Connie
Stafford and Sue Hillman, Eau Claire.
Elaine requested that no formal memorial services be held. The
family will celebrate her life and place her remains beside her husband,
Howard, at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis at a later
date.
In Elaine's memory, share a hug with family and friends, or donate
to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090B N. 12th
St., Grand Junction, CO 81506 (which provided loving and compassionate
care in Elaine's final days), or to the charity of your choice.
