Gardner Moore Stahlman, age 84, of O'Fallon, born September 2, 1938 in Butler, Penn. Gardner, known as "Bud," died Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Mo., with family at his side.

Bud grew up in Pennsylvania and began working at a young age (collecting golf balls from 5 to 8 am for 35 cents an hour), and began driving at the age of 12 to help around the farm and get groceries from town. Alongside his father, Bud started a landscaping business at the age of 13 and was involved in baseball, basketball, and acting during high school. He was class president in his senior year.

He majored in Business Administration at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Penn., and pledged to Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, playing basketball, softball, and 7-man football all four years. During college, he was taken under his Uncle Persh's wing and learned to fly on a Piper Cub and Cessna 182. After his uncle passed away, Bud took up work at Layne Drilling Company, where his father was superintendent. Bud was then drafted into the Army in 1961 and served for 2 years gaining an E-5 rank. After trying out various professions, eventually Bud landed back at Layne in 1965. This was the same year that he met Mary Jane McDonald, to whom he married and had four children. At Layne Drilling Company, which changed names to Hydro Group, Bud worked his way from a helper on drilling rigs to President and Director. Bud and Mary divorced in 1997, and he retired from Hydro Group in 1998.

After retirement, Bud enjoyed traveling in his RV to visit his children, going to sporting events, and spending time reading and playing Bridge. He resided mostly in Bradenton, Fla., and became a Board Member and Treasurer at Westwinds (Retirement) Village, and eventually moved to Keystone Place at Richland Creek in O'Fallon, Ill., to be close to his family. At Keystone, he continued to keep his mind active by teaching Bridge to other residents.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dale Moore Stahlman, and Lois Francis (Nelson) Stahlman, as well as his beloved niece Kimberly Mentecki.

Bud is survived by his loving sister, Karen (Stahlman) Gretz of Lower Burrell, Penn.; his four children, Jeff Stahlman and his wife, Cheryll Frye Stahlman, of Collinsville, Ill., Kevin Stahlman of Haiku, Hawaii, Eric Stahlman of Ashland, Ore., and Elizabeth (Stahlman) Arp and her husband Jonathan Arp of Port Townsend, Wash.; grandchildren, nephews, grandniece and grandnephews.

The family will host private services. Online condolences may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.