WOLCOTTSVILLE — Bob Stahl, a dairy farmer who served on the Royalton Town Board for 12 years, made many friends during his life on Wolcottsville Road.
He had no idea how many.
Friends, and friends of friends, are doing the country thing and repaying his kindness with major house repairs. About 14 men and women began work on work on the house Thursday and planned to finish off the endeavor for Bob and Shirley Stahl in time for a Sunday evening homecoming.
“Carson Kelly and his wife, Cindy, got it started. I don’t know why, but out of the goodness of his heart he did,” said Shirley. “That’s what you do in the country. We can’t thank them enough.”
Bob, 73, has Lou Gehrig’s disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Patients may become totally paralyzed.
The founder of Stahl Brothers Dairy and Stahl Brothers Milk Haulers is in a wheelchair. Volunteers will build a sun room and add a ramp in order for him go out for air to see his old farm that his grandson Mitchell tends.
A new bathroom is in the works, with a shower that’s handicap accessible. Plus, there will be accessible doors and floors.
The community raised $30,000 at a spaghetti dinner and basket auction last Sunday at the Wolcottsville Fire Co. Trinity Lutheran in Wolcottsville and Concordia Lutheran of Newfane donated $10,000 through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
“I just can’t explain it,” said Shirley. “It’s overwhelming. We didn’t know we had that many friends. There were people at benefit I didn’t even know. You can’t imagine it, unless you’re in those shoes.”
Bob can’t walk now, but is able to take a few steps with a walker. He can operate the lawn mower with hand controls, however.
“The boys lift him up on the lawn mower, and he mows all the family yards,” Shirley said. “It makes him feel like he’s doing something.”
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DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PULLING TOGETHER: Wolcottsville upgrades house for Bob Stahl, ALS victim
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