Theodore Charles Stanek, formerly of Stanley died Friday, November 20, 2015 at the Wisconsin Veteran's Home in Union Grove. He was born September 18, 1923 in Rolling Green Township, Corson County, South Dakota, one of 13 children born to Frank Ernest and Mary Emma (Bruha) Stanek. The family later moved to a property near Stanley where Theodore grew up. Ted completed the 8th grade at Popple Hill School along County-G. He worked at lumbering cutting basswood and poplar blanks, and farming jobs in the area around Stanley.

During WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as pfc in the motorized division as a courier. He went to and from Europe aboard troop ships crossing the North Atlantic. He was initially based in England, was part of the Normandy Invasion, landing at Utah Beach in the days following the initial D-Day invasion. After the war, he moved back to Stanley where he lived and helped build up the farm that still remains in the Stanek family.

In June 1947 he married Myrtle Grace Hardtke in Chippewa Falls.After their marriage and move to Antioch, where Myrtle's parents had lived, he worked in a gas pipe manufacturing company wrapping asbestos coating, but his health was affected by this work, so he had to get out of it. Ted and Myrtle moved to Spring Grove and farmed. Ted co-managed the dairy and later beef operations until 1967, when they quit farming and moved with their family to their home along Grass Lake Road near Antioch, Illinois. In the following years Ted was a welder and fabricated boat trailers for the John Sterling Corporation near Genoa City, and he welded stainless steel industrial ovens for the Grieve Corporation. Following his retirement, Ted and Myrtle decided to sell their home near Antioch, and move "Up North" to a 40 acre property passed to Myrtle from her parents. Together they enjoyed their time gardening, caring for the property, driving the trails, watching deer and birds come to the feeders, and being visited by friends and neighbors. Ted loved to hunt deer on many of his old stomping grounds. Theodore enjoyed gardening, fishing and in general the outdoors.
Theodore is survived by... his children, Ronald Stanek of Anchorage, Alaska, Ann (Harry) Stanek-Sperandio of Wonder Lake, IL, Debbie (Mark) Dixon of Gurnee, IL and Lisa (Craig) Ulrich of Lake Villa, IL, and 6 grandchildren, Jeffrey, Ashley, Amy, Megan, Kirsten and Allison.
Ted is preceded in death by his parents, wife Myrtle (2004), siblings, Mildred, twins Martha and Marcella, Frank, Robert, Sylvester, Cyril, Helen, Richard, August, Agnes and Wencil.

A funeral service will be at 11:30 AM on Saturday, November 28th, 2015 at the Plombon Funeral Home-Stanley with Rev. Kenneth Schmidt officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation
will be from 10AM until time of service Saturday morning at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials are appreciated to the Otter Lake Booster Club.

Plomnon Funeral Home