Stanley Estes

Stanley Eugene Estes Stanley Eugene Estes, 77 year old resident of Little Falls, MN flew to his heavenly home peacefully from here on his farm, Friday September 18th. Funeral service will be held Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 A.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN with Pastor Jason Swedeen officiating. Friends may call from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of service on Saturday. Stanley was born June 23, 1932, in Northwood, Iowa to Stewart and Martha (Grosland) Estes. The family moved to Minnesota where Stanley attended and graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1949. He attended Waldorf College and later the University of Minnesota. He worked for John Deere Manufacturing in Waterloo, Iowa then for the United States Postal Service until he retired in 1987. During his time with the postal service, he was a clerk and worked on the Railway and Highway Post Office, Postmaster in Dundas MN, Quality Control Officer in the Bulk Mail Center in Eagan, MN and then Postmaster in Cushing MN until he retired. Stanley had a passion for living and was willing to take on projects he had never tried before. He received his pilots' license at the age of 63. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Young Eagles program, giving 353 free flights to aspiring young pilots. He was very active in promoting general aviation. Stanley was a member of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter #551 and loved being one of the Pope County Flyers. He was always ready at the Little Falls Airport to give someone a plane ride in his 172 Cessna. He built several ultralight planes and was also qualified to fly a power parachute and trike. He was committed to public and community service. He ran for Morrison County Commissioner and MN District #8 Congressional representative for the Reform Party. He served three years with AmeriCorp Vista working to support local sustainable agriculture. He was former vice-chair of Morrison County Farmers Union, former board member for Central Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, Minnesota Citizens Organized Acting Together (MNCOACT) and Whole Farm Coop. He was on the founding board for the Whole Farm Education Foundation a 501(c)(3) dedicated to educating the public about agriculture produced in cooperation with the natural environment. He was currently part of a coalition of organizations working with the Little Falls Community Schools Farm to School project. Left to cherish his memory are his mother Martha Dahl of Austin, MN; children, Sue Blem of Canby, OR, Kathy Weldon of Beaverton, OR and Debra Estes of Canby, OR; life companion, June Varner of Little Falls, MN; siblings, Dean Estes and wife, Mary, of Phoenix, AZ, half-brother, Thomas Estes and wife, Mary, of Little Falls, MN, Rose Estes of Arizona; grandchildren, Melissa Blem, Jill Lomax, Rachel Smith, Sherah Campbell, Josh Pickerign, Matthew Estes, Lisa Vanlue and Michael Lazenby; great-grandchildren, Jared Eshweiller, Ella Blem, Mason Smith and Rylan Estes. He was preceded in death by his father, Stewart Estes; step-mother, Lillian Estes; siblings, Maynard Estes and George Dahl; nephew, Robert Estes. Memorials Preferred to: Whole Farm Education Foundation, c/o the Estes Family, 15451 83rd Street, Little Falls, MN 56345