Timothy Todd Stage

Timothy Todd Stage

Feb. 16, 1960 – Jan. 31, 2020

Timothy Todd Stage, age 59, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Jan. 31, 2020.

Tim was born on Feb. 16, 1960 in Westfield, New York, to Delos and Donna (Cheney) Stage, third in a family of four children. He grew up in the Dewittville United Methodist Church and later married there.

He graduated from Mayville Central High School in 1978 where he excelled in many sports: track, basketball, baseball and football, even receiving letters of interest from college teams. But alas, the call of the sea was stronger. He hopped on a plane the day after graduation and came to Alaska to commercial fish with his uncle Bill Cheney in Kodiak. Tim split his time fishing summers in Alaska and some winters fishing in Florida too.

In the early 1980s he worked as a Nationwide Insurance agent with his dad and brother, and later as a roughneck in the gas well field in New York. He met Heidi in 1982 on a beach in Florida over spring break. They married in 1985 and drove up the Alaskan Highway for their honeymoon. They lived in Anchorage for two years before moving to Homer in 1987 to pursue Tim’s dream of commercial fishing. He fished salmon, crab and halibut in Kodiak, Kachemak Bay, Cook Inlet and Bristol Bay. In the off seasons, he worked as a flooring contractor.

Tim was so excited to become a dad in 1989 with the birth of Courtney, and again 1992 when Asa was born. He was the ultimate family man, always putting his family first. He chose the Upper Cook Inlet fishery in order to be closer to his kids. They later became his deckhands and in 2006, he decided to try a new area and bought into the Bristol Bay fishery. He loved living in Alaska and being on the water. Tim was very involved with his kids’ activities; he coached basketball and golf at McNeil Canyon Elementary School, baseball for Homer Little League and hockey for the Homer Hockey Association.

He served several terms on the board of Homer Hockey Association and helped facilitate the building of the rink. He loved helping people and was always willing to lend a hand. He had an infectious smile, the best giggle, the kindest soul and a great sense of humor. He enjoyed a good cribbage match and was learning to play the guitar. True to his humble spirit, he will be missed more than he could ever imagine.

Tim was preceded in death by both his maternal and paternal grandparents and brother-in-law, Tom Josephson.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 35 years, Heidi; daughter Courtney; son Asa, daughter-in-law Halie and their beautiful twin daughters, Esmay and Freya; his parents Donna and Delos Stage; brother Paul (Rosemary) Stage; sisters Bonnie Josephson and Cindy Woltz; and many other loving family members and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at McNeil Canyon Elementary School.

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