CHARLES RICHARD STANLEY
1933-2023
Charles Richard Stanley was born in a farmhouse near Barada, Nebraska on July 30, 1933. He had two older doting sisters and was the third born of seven to Louie Elijah “Puud” and Ella Christine (Steinbrink) Stanley. Richard grew up over the course of his childhood on several farms and attended country schools in southeast Nebraska.
Richard served in the Army National Guard, and would later on in life, proudly proclaim to have operated the military tank located in the Auburn Memorial Park.
On September 2, 1956, he married Melva Jean Shroyer, at Pleasant View Methodist Church, rural Humboldt, NE. After a short courtship which began at Tiny’s Cafe on the north edge of Auburn, Richard proposed to Jean on Christmas Day 1955. The couple made their first home south of Howe, NE and later moved to a family farm just west of Shubert, NE after forming a mutual partnership with Shubert native, Phillip Johnson. Richard greatly enjoyed farming, raising cattle and hogs, and making the rounds as a seed salesman.
He was a leader in Richardson County 4-H as well as the Stella 4-H club, where he supported his children in participating, and helped them with breaking many 4-H calves and getting them ready for the show ring.
Richard was a current member of St. Paul’s Lutheran, but belonged to several Lutheran churches throughout his life and loved to read the passages in “Portals of Prayer”. He was not known to be outspoken about his faith, but if you asked him about God’s presence, he would let you know that faith in Jesus Christ was central to his view of how to live one’s life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Melva Jean (Shroyer) Stanley; son James Lynn Stanley; parents-in-law Melvin and Estle Shroyer; sister Lois (and Bob) Hector; sister Doris (and Edward) Johnson; sister Shirley (and Darrell) Stowater; brother Keith Stanley; brother-in-law Wayne McNeely, and sister and brother-in-law Meredith and Don Grove.
Richard is survived by son Neil (Fara) Stanley, daughter Sondra (Steve) Westenburg, daughter Cindy (Don) Munchrath, son Bruce (Betty) Stanley; sister Elva Jean McNeely, brother Mark (Cindy) Stanley and sister-in-law Joyce (Keith) Stanley. He also is survived by 10 grandchildren: Grant Stanley, Laura (Jarod) Hindes and Rachel Stanley; Bryce, Brooklyn and Brynn Westenburg; Taylor and Michaela Munchrath; Kaitlyn (Jackson) Powell and Reagan Stanley. He became a Great Grandfather with the birth of great granddaughter, Naomi Hindes, and has one great grandson on the way. He will also be missed by many nephews, nieces, extended family & friends.
A funeral service was held Saturday, February 18, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn. Burial followed in Prairie Union Cemetery near Shubert. Memorials suggested to family choice.
Services are entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.