In Loving Memory of STANISLAUS “STAN” RACH
July 21, 1931 – April 13, 2024

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Stan, our “Sonnenschein,” beloved husband, Papa, Opa, brother, uncle, and, friend, who left us on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the age of 92.

He passed away unexpectedly, surrounded in body/spirit by his entire loving family, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and inspiration. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years, Margit, as well as his parents, Maria and Ernst, and brothers Anton, Walter, and Adolf, and brothers-in-law, Frank and John Halluk, and sisters-in-law Krimhild, and Teresa Rach.

Born on July 21, in Smorgwa, Poland, Stan was a lifelong lover of the simple joys in life. His passion for gardening was evident in every flower that bloomed and every vegetable that thrived under his care or placed on the lawn to share his bounty with his community. His passion for gardening was shared with his wife, Margit by his side for more than six decades, and then the last decade independently. They worked seamlessly together to create a garden that garnered much wonderment. His hands had the magic touch that could coax life from the soil, and his garden was a testament to his patience, dedication, and love for nature. He found solace and happiness in the beauty of his garden, prayer, his strong faith and communal worship and to the many friends that stopped to visit over the years that he lived fiercely independent and keeping up Mama’s high standards. He never let her, or anyone down, in life together, or in the ten plus years after her passing.

Family was the keystone of Stan’s life. He cherished every moment spent with our Mama, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. His home was always filled with laughter, love, and the warmth of family gatherings. His wisdom, love, and guidance will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Never afraid to share an opinion, of which he had many, based on a life well-travelled and well lived, from the far reaches of Poland, Germany, surviving World War II, Chile, Canada, eventually settling in Coaldale. Stan and Margit cultivated not only a beautiful garden but also a beautiful life together. They instilled in their children a love of plants, dogs, travel, and respect for humankind, for which we will always be grateful, and proudly passing onto the next generations.

Stan was a trained cobbler, a master of all trades, largely self-taught, with no job too big to take on as a challenge. He enjoyed learning, and found great reward in successfully conquering challenges, through remarkable intuition, skills, and stick-to-it determination. His multiple skills made him an invaluable resource, providing spontaneous teaching moments, and always saving the time and expense of hiring a tradesman.

Fishing and camping were other cherished pastimes for Stan, again with our Mama by his side. They could often be spotted riding together in their VW campervan once Stan retired from his job at the Department of Highways, after 40+ years of keeping the summer and winter roads safe, no matter the hour. Stan and Margit always had a suitcase at the ready for Auf Der Reise (on an adventure trip). Whether Stan was casting a line into a quiet lake or sharing stories with friends by the water’s edge, he found happiness and relaxation in the simple act of fishing and being in nature. The tranquility and the thrill of the catch brought him endless joy throughout his life. His quest for knowledge and skills was immense, such as learning to master filleting, and only made more impressive by his sharing of his talents, as he could often be seen with a crowd of young and old gathering round him while fishing, as he demonstrated his filleting skills.

Stan was a passionate nature lover, bird watcher, and loved to feed the birds, and instilled in us the importance of taking the time to enjoy the simple beauty of the life that surrounds us all.

Stan’s life was a testament to the values of hard work, kindness, and perseverance. He faced life’s challenges with grace and optimism, always finding a way to see the silver lining and inspire those around him to do the same. His positive outlook and unwavering faith in the goodness of people touched the lives of all who knew him.

Stan will be deeply missed by his children and their families. He leaves behind his four children and their families: Margit (Doug), Stanley (Judy), Kathy (Stewart) and Monica (Gerald), grandchildren: Caylee, Brett (Kayla), Madelaine, Mischa, David, Emily (Austin), Pamela (Eamonn), Michelle and Christina, and great-grandchildren: Ethan, Nylah, Caoimhe, Padraig, Ciaran, Cillian, Malachy, Sydney, Eva, SJ, and Grace. He also leaves behind his sister Christa (Rick) and his sister-in-law, Mercedes.

He leaves his special childhood friend Ursula, and her family Martina, Jürgen, and Christiane in Gieboldehausen, Germany, who will dearly miss their daily chats on WhatsApp. He was proficient in navigating the digital world, including Facetime with friends and family all over the world, including numerous cousins, extended families in Germany, and many friends we will undoubtedly meet sometime.

He was always curious, with a multitude of interests, from plants to politics. He was well-versed in politics, frequently engaging in conversations about current affairs, both local and worldwide, drawing on his life experiences to add meaningful context to discussions. He was well-travelled, coupled with a proficiency for learning languages, and spoke fluent German, Polish, Russian, Hungarian, Spanish, Italian, and English.

As we bid farewell to Papa, Opa, Stan, may we hold onto the cherished memories, the love he shared, and the lessons he taught us. May his legacy of kindness, love, grace, gratitude and connection live on in our hearts and inspire us to live our lives with the same passion and grace that he did.

You will be forever missed and always remembered with love. We take comfort knowing you will be reunited with all your loved ones, especially Mama, and together again, you can go Auf Der Reise! This time, you don’t have to hurry back!

To honour Stan’s memory, plant a row of zinnias, fillet a fish, say hello to a neighbour, and toast to a life well lived.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. AMBROSE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1513 – 23 Avenue, Coaldale, AB, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. with Father Ian Gagne celebrating.

Flowers are gratefully accepted.

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2024-04-13
• Location : Lethbridge, Alberta