Fred Harder
Frederick R. Harder, 77, passed away on March 4, 2016, from leukemia. Fred was born in Ottawa, Kansas. He graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree. While there he was a starter on the basketball team for four years and lettered four years in track. He accepted a regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant, promoted to First Lieutenant and graduated from Paratrooper School and served from 1960 through 1963.
He retired as a real estate agent in Overland Park, Kansas, in 2000 and he and his wife Rita moved to SaddleBrooke that year. He was an avid tennis player, captained teams and played on many teams that went to sectionals and nationals. He was on the team that won the Gold Medal in Senior Olympics in basketball in Tucson in 2003 for the 65 and over age group.
He loved living in SaddleBrooke and dining at the old Mesquite Grill where people kidded him about having a booth named in his honor because he was there so often eating is beloved hamburgers—he was definitely the “hamburger king “of SaddleBrooke.
Claire Stalnaker
Claire passed away January 8, 2016, after having Alzheimer’s for the past several years. A gathering was held at her home on January 10 and her ashes will be scattered in selected places.
She was born in Hayden, Arizona, in 1935 and spent her childhood on farms and ranches in that area and many places in the U.S.A. Was married to Wallace Stalnaker who was in the U.S. Air Force and spent time in Okinawa, England and many places in the U.S.A.
They retired and settled back in Catalina, Arizona and owned the restaurant now named Claire’s (just coincidence) for several years.
They built a home in SaddleBrooke (Unit 35) in 1991. Claire was one of the founders of the lady Sputters group. She also enjoyed playing Mah Jongg and Bunco.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Wally (1999). Survived by brothers James and Odro of Mesa, Arizona and son Steven of Marana, Arizona and daughter Paula of Houston, Texas and companion of the past 15 years, Glen Peterson of SaddleBrooke.