Stanley, Michael ("Mike") Ralph (1948 - 2024)

STANLEY, BEKKEN, ELLIOTT, SILCOX

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/5/2024 at 15:35:27

Name of deceased: Michael (“Mike”) Ralph Stanley

Aged: 75 yrs, 10 mo, 19 days

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: May 5, 1948; Hamburg, Fremont County, IA

Died: March 24, 2024; MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, Des Moines, Polk County, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, March 30, 2024; AHSTW High School Gymnasium, Avoca, IA

Survived by: Wife of 54 years, Michaele; sons, Sean (spouse, Mary), Jim (spouse, Amy), and Dave Stanley; sisters, Patricia (spouse, John) Bekken and Lisa (spouse, Aaron) Elliott; grandchildren, Mackenzie (spouse, Jackie) and Graham Stanley; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Barbara and James Stanley; brother, Wayne

Education: Mike was very involved in sports throughout junior high and high school years, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball; he also began running track and particularly excelled at hurdles, and this built a foundation and dedication to track & field that would endure for the remainder of his life. After his high school graduation, Mike attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, MO and earned his teaching degree while also playing basketball and running track. He later earned his master’s degree at Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, MO,

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Michaele Silcox; date and location not provided

Employment: Following his college graduation, Mike took a job teaching high school English and coaching boys' basketball at Carson-Macedonia Community High School, Carson, IA, before moving on to Midland High School, Wyoming, IA, and then on to Underwood, IA, where he also took the reins as athletic director. After acquiring his master’s degree, Mike took the position as principal at Malvern, IA; he then accepted the same position in Bedford, IA. Next, Mike took a surprising detour from education and became a tour bus driver for a few years. This may have seemed like an odd choice, but he had always had a passion for driving trucks, buses, and construction equipment. He enjoyed traveling the country and interacting with the tour groups he shuttled around. But with 3 sons in college, he thought it best to return to a job as principal and athletic director at A-H-S-T High School in Avoca, IA. He held this position until his retirement in 2004.

In retirement, Mike continued to work as a starter and official for track & field, basketball, and softball events throughout Iowa, serving at more than 30 Iowa State track meets, the Drake Relays, and numerous junior high, high school, and collegiate sporting events as he had for almost 50 years. As he followed this passion, it was an accidental fall onto the track from the starter's stand that resulted in a spinal cord injury which put Mike in the hospital for the final two weeks of his life.

Hobbies/Interests: Mike was a member of the Iowa Association of Track Officials Hall of Fame, the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, and the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame. He was only the 16th recipient in 87 years of the prestigious Jack North Award in 2015 for his service to the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union.

From a young age, Mike was involved in the local saddle club and Little Britches rodeos along with his brother, Wayne, but being a grandpa changed Mike more than anything else in his life. He took vacations with the family to destinations like Key West, Florida, the Pacific coast of Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the mountains of Wyoming, where the cowboy got to ride a horse one last time with his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com