Stanley A. Suck, 84, died in Casa Grande, Arizona on Jan. 25, 2018.
He was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on Dec. 15, 1933 and grew up on a farm near Phillips, Nebraska, graduating from Phillips High School in 1951. He attended one year of college in Hastings, Nebraska but couldn’t decide on a major course of study, so he took a job in Washington, D.C. as a typist for the Department of the Navy. Within six months he discovered that being in an office all day, every day, was not for him.
He enlisted in the Coast Guard. While in Boot Camp in Cape May, N.J., he had the honor of marching in President Eisenhower’s inaugural parade. He was quick to point out that it was simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
He proudly served his country in Ohio, Seattle, Alaska (on isolated duty), Grand Marais and Isle Royale. He was discharged in October 1956 from active duty but 20 years later he joined the Coast Guard Reserve Unit in Duluth as a Port Security Officer, retiring in 1993 with 20 years. He thoroughly enjoyed the work and the “Coasties” he encountered there.
He married Edna Hammer in July 1955. They lived in Nebraska, returning to Grand Marais in 1968, when Stan was hired by the City of Grand Marais as a patrolman. In Nebraska, he worked at various law enforcement agencies.
In May 1976, he was wed to Sally Smith. By this time, he was Chief of Police and continued as such until retirement in 1995. But, he “failed retirement” and soon went back to work as a bailiff and transport officer for the Cook County Sheriff ’s Department, a job he held until age 76. This job allowed him to spend four months each winter in Arizona, which had been his dream for many years. Sally and Stan spent 18 winters at their home in Coolidge, Arizona in the sunshine and he loved every minute. He made several wonderful friends there. When medical problems made things more difficult, he adapted, and family and friends helped him lead a somewhat normal life. He had an incredible will to live.
The past two winters, he rode a recumbent bike around the park. He needed help to get on and off and his feet had to be strapped to the pedals, but he made five miles nearly every day, of which he was very proud. He could stop to rest if needed or visit a bit with park residents and they all looked out for him.
Surviving are his wife of nearly 42 years, Sally; daughter, Sandy Petty; sons Randal Scott, Tim Suck and Jeff Sook; eight grandchildren and three great- grandchildren; sister, Geraldine (Gene) Carlson; brother, Norris (Ruby) Zook and several nieces and nephews; and his mother-in-law, Nona Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Minnie; a brother, Donald; a nephew, Todd; and many aunts and uncles.
Stan was a member of First Congregational Church in Grand Marais, the Platte Deutsche Club in Grand Island, Nebraska, and was a Mason, receiving his 60-year pin in November 2016. He also served on the Grand Marais Fire Department for 22 years.
Stan was most grateful, and the family thankful, for Dr. Paul Terrill’s excellent care during several years of unusual medical problems. Keeping it all straight couldn’t have been easy.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 19 at the Congregational Church, 300 W. Second St., Grand Marais.
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