Stewart W. Chase

Stewart "Stu" William Chase Stewart Chase passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2009, with his family by his side, after a long battle with cancer. Stewart Chase was born February 4, 1943 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the son of Fred and Lillian Chase. After graduating from Grand Forks Central High School in 1961, Stu joined the United States Air Force. During Stu's enlistment he was stationed in Denver, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico and lastly Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. While stationed in Germany, he met his one true love, Gisela Weigerding. They were united in marriage on April 2, 1965 and resided in Grand Forks. In 1965 Stu began employment with the Grand Forks Police Department. During his tenure with the Police Department, Stu achieved success as an officer as well as being responsible for initiating and leading the Grand Forks S.W.A.T team and participated in extensive training at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virgina. When Stu concluded his career as a police officer he joined the Grand Forks Fire Department. As many firemen, Stu fought many fires and saved many lives. He was one of many firemen that showed their dedication to our community during the 1997 flood. Stu was a driver and a Fire Apparatus Specialist until 2004, when he became ill. Stu was a caring and loving husband and father. Every year Stu would travel with his wife and three girls to different areas in the mid-west. Stu greatly enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. Not only did Stu hunt geese, ducks and deer, he hunted in various parts of the mid-west and added a lynx, mountain sheep, snow owl and even a large black bear he shot in Canada to his collection. Stu also enjoyed fishing, fishing, fishing and more fishing. Stu never had a problem to find a fishing partner. It was either his brother, Lee or one of his close friends, Mike Sandry or Roger Wald. On not so good fishing days, we would find Stu sitting in his boat which was parked in the driveway (probably just day dreaming of fishing). Stu was also a great artist. He is known in the community for his various wood carvings from area craft shows where he sold and had many order lists for his various birds, animals, Native American wood carvings and even taught carving classes for Community Ed in East Grand Forks. Stu will be greatly missed by his best friend and wife, Gisela "Schatz"; his three daughters including his three son-in-laws, Gitta (Rod) Goeser, Michelle (Randy) Jenson and Diana (Bill) Engel. Stu has ten grandchildren, Lukas (Julie) Chase; Chantell (Tony) Haider, Hayley Chase, Sara Jenson, Randy Jenson, Zac Woodbridge, Emily Woodbridge, Billy Engel, Hunter Engel and Mia Engel; four great-grandchildren; brother Lee (Jackie) Chase of Grand Forks; sisters Joyce (Doug) Eizenzimmer, of Erskine, Jean (Daryl) Crockett of Grand Forks and Crystal (Mike) Jensen of Colorado. Stu was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ardel, sister, Kathy Bye and nephew, Jeff Kavadas. Honorary pallbearers: Mike Sandry, Darren Schimke and Roger Wald