Stanley J. Krupinski

Stanley John Krupinski was a hard-working man who dearly loved his family. He was a kind and faithful husband, loving father and a devoted grandfather.

Stanley was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 26, 1918 to John and Caroline (Gutzman) Krupinski. He was baptized in the Catholic faith and later attended parochial grade school. Sadly, Stanley had three brothers who died of pneumonia as infants.

His family owned a 3-story apartment building and while his mother worked nights, his father drove for Yellow Cab. Although John had a job, life was hard for everyone. Tragedy struck again when Stanley was five years old. His mother, while washing windows at the apartment building, died when she fell from one of the windows. This was a very lonely time for Stanley. Later, his father met and eventually married a woman named Teresa who had two sons of her own, Joe and Ed. Together, John and Teresa had a daughter they named Frances.

Bad luck continued to follow the family when John and Teresa were swindled by a crooked Chicago lawyer who convinced them to sell their 3-story building and buy a 5-story one. After writing them a bad check in return for their cash, the lawyer left town -taking all their money with him. John and Teresa were unable to pay for the new building and were left with literally nothing. Fortunately, a friend helped them relocate to Riverton Township in Michigan where the couple was able to buy a farm. Shortly after they moved, John passed away, and Stanley again had to deal with a tragedy in his young life. He survived yet another loss, and found the inner strength to persevere. He attended Riverton Elementary school where he loved to play ball when he wasn't busy working on the farm.

One of his two step brothers had stayed in Chicago when they moved because he had a job and didn't want to leave. He often sent outdated bread and baked goods to the family so that they would have something to eat. Stanley spent most of his time on the farm, with trips to church on Sundays his only opportunity to get away. A retired school teacher who attended church with him, Mrs. Kilpatrick, noted his plight and offered him a room at her boarding house. Stanley was very grateful and decided to take her up on her offer. He threw his clothes out a window of his house, gathered them up outside and walked several miles into town to the boarding house. He found work on a farm as an implement mechanic and soon began his own feed grinding business. It gave Stanley the opportunity to make friends with the farmers he served. He made deals with the farmers for food and was able to buy eggs for 10 cents a dozen. His rent consisted of bringing Mrs. Kilpatrick the occasional dozen eggs and other items he received in trade from the farms.

Happiness came into Stanley's life when he met Clarice McCormick in Ludington. Clarice was from Fountain, and the two met at a gathering at the Polish hall in the fall of 1947. Friends, neighbors and relatives met at the hall once a month for dancing and social time and that particular night Clarice was there with her sister. Stanley was also there, all dressed up, and no date. He asked Clarice to dance and this led to dating. At Christmas, Stanley showed up at Clarice's home with a big cedar chest filled with Revere Ware pots and pans, a gift for Clarice. Stanley was definitely in love. A few weeks later he proposed, but Clarice said "no." Stanley put the ring in his car's glove box and there it stayed. The two continued to date and when he asked her the second time, she said "yes." The ring was still in the glove box, ready to go, and he slid it onto her finger. They were married on July 3, 1948 at St. Simon's Catholic Church in Ludington. Stanley and Clarice were blessed with four wonderful children: LaWana, Kristine, Stanley and Bradley. They had a close-knit family and the happy couple was faithfully devoted to one another for the past 57 years.

For a number of years, Stanley worked as a mechanic for the W.E. Reader Implement and Farm Equipment of Scottville. He serviced and painted tractors and other farm implements and then delivered them to the area farmers. He later owned and operated Krupinski Portable Feeds, grinding grain for 144 Mason, Lake and Oceana County farmers from 1947 to 1960. Well-known by the area farmers, Stanley was also liked and respected by the farmers and their families. After selling the feed grinding business, he took a job at Harrington Tool Co., in Ludington. He diligently worked there from 1960 to 1995 as a milling machine operator, making precision tools. He was a hard worker and took great pride in doing each job well. Stanley retired in 1995 at the age of 75.

Stanley was a faithful member of St. Jerome's Catholic Church, having decided as a young boy that this was where he wanted to be. He enjoyed serving as an usher for many years and also helped with numerous church activities. He was "Santa's Helper" for holiday events at the church, as well as for the city of Scottville at their Christmas events. As a young man, during the 1940's, he and several other parishioners at the church took part in digging the basement of the church building by hand. They used picks and shovels and a team of horses to complete the project.

Liking to keep busy, Stanley was always doing something. After retirement he and Clarice made many trips to haul wood, sometimes just for something to do. Stanley also liked to joke and tease with his family. But in spite of the joking and teasing, the family knew they could always depend on him to help fix anything. He also wanted to feed family and friends alike - anyone who entered his door. In spite of his difficult beginnings and early life, he was a man of warmth and compassion who gave back many times over the blessings he had received from those who helped him. Stanley Krupinski will be greatly missed and dearly remembered.

His family includes his wife, Clarice, four children: LaWana (Robert) Rosenow of Prescott, Kristine (Jim) Casteel of Branch, Stanley L. Krupinski of Ludington and Bradley Krupinski of Scottville; six grandchildren, Angela, John, Tricia, Rob, Amanda, and Meagan and four great grandchildren, Tyler, Johnnie, Jacob and Sydney, his sister Frances of Whitehall and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three infant brothers, his step mother and two step brothers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Stanley at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 22 at St. Jerome's Catholic Church in Scottville with Rev. Godfrey Onyekwere and Rev. Isidro Gargantiel as celebrants. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville. Interment will be held at Pere Marquette Cemetery with a committal service at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Aviary Fund at Tendercare of Ludington. Please visit Stanley's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may sign the guestbook or leave a memory for his family.