Edward Nestestu Stondall

Jan 21, 1930 -

Feb 12, 2024

Edward Nestestu Stondall was born in Madison, Wis., on Jan. 21, 1930, to parents Egbert Stondall of Norwegian descendance, and Ruth (Stromstad) Stondall, an immigrant of Norway. He was their third and final child. He grew up and attended school in Milton, Wis., where he was Class President, played football and basketball, and participated in many clubs including photography. As a young adult, Edward moved to California with his family and attended college at Heald Engineering in San Francisco where he earned a civil engineering degree. He met his wife Elizabeth Cooper on a weekend ski trip and they later married on Aug. 21, 1952, in a private ceremony in Reno, Nev. Edward joined and served in the Army from 1952 to 1954. While serving, the young couple lived in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and later at Camp Gordon, Ga., where they had their first child and son, Carl. Following his service in the Army, the couple settled in Palo Alto, Calif., where they had two additional children, Nancy and Sandra.

While living in Palo Alto, Edward worked for the City of Mountain View, the State of California and a private contractor. He provided engineering services for the construction of roads and highways including Interstate 280 in the San Francisco Bay Area and the well-known "Grapevine" in Southern California which ultimately connected to US-99 in 1970. In 1971, the family relocated to the Olympic National Park in Washington state, where Edward worked on various engineering projects for the National Park Service. He was then transferred to Denver, Colo., to work for the Department of Interior and later transferred in 1975 to Anchorage, Alaska, to again work for the National Park Service. While in Alaska, he was stationed in Anchorage, Denali and King Salmon.

One of Edward's legacies in life was his role on the Alaska Task Force created in the early part of 1975. He was selected as one of ten individuals to serve on a team tasked with determining additional Alaska land to be preserved under the National Park Service. Alaska Task Force team members from the Lower 48 relocated to an office in Anchorage in summer 1975, and subsequently successfully submitted a legislative proposal which was passed in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. The "Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act" provided approximately 44 million additional acres to the parks, the single largest expansion in history.

Shortly after retirement from the National Park Service, Edward and Elizabeth moved back to California to help care for their adult son Carl Stondall who had multiple sclerosis and ultimately passed on Feb. 24, 2015. In 2019. Elizabeth's cancer returned after a 29-year remission period and both Elizabeth and Edward moved to Cypress, Texas, where their daughter Nancy would ultimately care for them during their final years. Edward died peacefully on Feb. 12, 2024, in Cypress, with his daughter Nancy by his side. He is survived by two daughters, Nancy and Sandra; their husbands, Ed and Jim, respectively; and three grandsons, Nathan, Tyler and Evan.

Edward was a skilled photographer and enjoyed capturing the beauty of the Alaska wilderness and wildlife. He and his wife Elizabeth felt fortunate they were able to explore the National Parks where they resided through hiking, fishing, embracing the native culture and establishing long lasting friendships with the locals. His career with the Park Service was unique and gave him many great stories to share with others. He was proud to live to the age of 94 and worked diligently throughout his life to maintain his health and well-being. He was a patient man who provided well for his family and was proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandsons.

Edward will be placed alongside his wife Elizabeth and his son Carl at the Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto. The celebration of life will be held at the cemetery on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend.