Stanley Eke

Stanley E. Eke, age 88 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at his home in rural Kandota Township, Minnesota.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2 - 6 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre.

Stanley Edward Eke was born April 3, 1928 in Docking, England to Leonard and Mable (Bailey) Eke. Stanley grew up on a farm in England. After school, he worked two years on a farm and then at the close of WWII, he worked in a garage on cars and farm machinery. He then worked for Lord Townshend for ten years as an agricultural engineer keeping the farm machinery in repair. He married Joan King September 28, 1951 in South Creek, England. After working for Lord Townshend, they purchased a milk distribution business. Joan and Stanley worked side by side delivering bottled milk, cheese and butter. Later they added a paper route to coincide with distributing milk.

Stanley and Joan came to America by ship in 1971 with four children and a 4' x 4' crate of belongings. The Ekes flew to Omaha, Nebraska and Stanley worked as an assistant manager for a "Fish & Chips" restaurant for the firm wanted a true Englishman within the establishments. After a year, Stan worked as a welder, manufacturing stainless steel equipment for meat plants. Stanley and Joan then moved to New London, Minnesota in 1973 and purchased a blacksmith shop working a couple years on tractors and doing welding. Joan and Stan moved to a hobby farm to milk up to 17 cows along with working for Kraemer Manufacturing making boat docks and lifts. Stan once again moved to Belgrade to farm, milk cows, and help at a nearby turkey farm. In 1985, they came to Sauk Centre and for nine years managed the Centre Square Apartment complex.

After his retirement in 1994, he continued his education through correspondence and seminar courses. Stanley studied computers, small engine repair, electricity and locksmithing. He thoroughly enjoyed locksmithing and computers along with fishing, gardening, and helping at his sons' body shop. In his retirement, Stan enjoyed traveling - to England, Australia and anywhere around the United States. Stanley loved technology and was often known for being more "tech savvy" than any teenager! He enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends throughout the world on his Facebook page and it was not uncommon to have "Facetime Chats" with all of his grandchildren!

Stanley will be deeply missed by his children, Peter (Barbara) Eke of Kerkhoven, MN, Sally (Edward) Jaeger of Richmond, MN, David (Sheila) Eke of Sauk Centre, and Carol (Joe) Tabatt of Sauk Centre; nine grandchildren, Preston Eke, Andre Eke, Kendra Eke, Heather Althaus, Sarah Johnson, Spencer Eke, Mercedes Eke, Kyle Tabatt, and Kayla (Kyle) Bueckers; great grandchildren, Alida Eke, Payton Eke, Tanner Althaus, Davrie Althaus, Brandi Swenson, Chase Messer and Payton Boe; sister, Betty Roberts, Perth, Australia; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan M. Eke on January 5, 2009; sister, Ann Harper: brother, Fred Eke; granddaughter, Marsha Boe; and great grandson, Tyler Boe.