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In the classroom, Doug Stottler was ‘firm, fair, consistent’ |
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Wednesday, 19 December 2007 |
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
On outings with his family in Forest Lake, Travis Stottler gained an appreciation that his father, Doug, was one good teacher.
There were numerous times when adults and students would approach the
Stottler family and thank Doug Stottler for taking extra steps to help
as their teacher years earlier or as a current teacher of their
children or grandchildren.
Throughout 32 years of teaching junior high English here, Travis
Stottler said his father worked each day with a simple motto. As a
teacher, his goal was to be “fair, firm and consistent,” Travis
Stottler said.
The Forest Lake area is now mourning the loss of another former teacher.
Doug Stottler, who retired four years ago, died on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007.
He had battled cancer for the past six years, his family said. He was 61.
Tough at times
It was a motto of being fair, firm and consistent that carried Stottler
through 32 years of teaching Grade 7 and 8 English to students at
Southwest and the old Central Junior High School in Forest Lake, his
son said.
“He made an impression on kids,” his son said. “It was an impression that lasted a lifetime.”
Stottler, who practices law in Wyoming, said he heard that message over
and over from people in the community. During his career he taught
three generations of area residents, Travis Stottler said.
“They would actually remember things from his classroom and it was 25 years ago,” his son said.
While Doug Stottler sought perfections from his students, he understood there were times when he had to bend, his son said.
“He was tough on kids when he had to be,” his son said, “but he had a
soft side to him, too. He knew when kids needed a different approach.
He would give kids a break.”
Stottler’s life
Douglas R. Stottler grew up on a family farm near DeGraff and graduated from Murdock High School.
He attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his teaching degree. His only teaching job was in Forest Lake.
Stottler came to work here in 1970. It was the same year that he met
his wife to be, Donna, who was another first-year teacher in Forest
Lake.
Travis Stottler described his father as a fighter who battled through a
number of bouts with cancer over the past six years and also beat bad
odds in 1991 when he was treated for a serious blood disorder.
Nearly 300 people attended a visitation for Stottler on Sunday, Dec. 16 at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake.
A private family funeral service has also taken place.
Stottler is survived by his wife of 37 years, Donna; sons Travis of
Centerville, and Cam of North St. Paul; one granddaughter, Payton; his
mother, Arline, Waconia; siblings Dewayne, Dennis (Kay), Phyllis
(David) Johnson, Delmar (Joyce); sister-in-law Voni Stottler; and many
other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Albert, and one sister, Pamela.
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