Obituary of Claus Stapelmann

Claus was the first Stapelmann in generations that did not go to sea. However, there was always a bit of salt water in his blood. So it is fitting to say as Lord Tennyson wrote, " He has 'crossed the bar ... for the deep." 1923-2015 When you enter the U.S. through Ellis Island the closest place you can put your foot ashore is in the bay cities of New Jersey. Immigrants before and since have done so, and that is what Claus and wife Elisabeth did.. It was the war in Europe that brought them to New Jersey to start anew. Twenty years later it was the duress of the American financial scoundrel Robert Vesco that brought the family to Santa Barbara to start anew, again. A precision machinist by trade, in retirement he turned his skills to turning and milling fine woods into unique bowls and vases. He gave each one of us three boys exactly what we needed; he let us figure out the rest for ourselves. While he was 'old world/old school' there was always an open hand and an open door to great opportunities. We sons, family and friends know more of our loss now.