FREDERIC STAI
Frederic A. Stai, 84, passed away peacefully at his home Friday, July 29, after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Fred was born in Ettrick, WI, Dec. 28, 1937, the third of four children born to Harry and Lanth (Thompson) Stai. The family moved frequently in the early years for Harry’s work as a high school principal and for his military service during WWII. After attending kindergarten and half of first grade in Chicago, Fred spent most of his school years in Taylor, where Lanth taught grade school for many years. As a youngster, Fred enjoyed sports and spending time on his grandparents’ farm near Northfield. He graduated from Taylor High School in 1955 and then earned a barbering license at Eau Claire Vocational School in June 1956.
Fred earned his master barber license while working at Vic’s Barbershop in La Crosse before buying into a barbershop in Blair in 1960. He then started his own barbershop in Black River Falls in 1964 after a brief barbering stint in Milwaukee. From 1957 to 1963, Fred also served in the military. He served for three years in the Marines and Marine Reserves and then finished his service with the Army Reserve, during which time he was called to serve at Fort Lewis from October 1961 to August 1962.
On July 27, 1963, Fred married Mary Kubina. Once they returned from Milwaukee during their first year of marriage, Fred and Mary spent the rest of their married lives in Black River Falls. They felt blessed by their three daughters – Sandy, Karen and Sarah – and later by their sons-in-law and grandchildren.
Fred transitioned from barbering to opening a State Farm Insurance agency in 1971. Through the years, Fred enjoyed camping and cross-country road trips with family and had many hobbies, including woodworking, coin collecting, doing handyman projects with friends, and stewarding 100 acres of retired farmland that he purchased in 1994.
Fred formally retired in 2001, when Karen took the helm as State Farm agent. But full retirement was not for him; he enjoyed working with Karen until truly retiring 15 years later. Fred and Mary celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2013, 11 months before Mary passed away from a long battle with carcinoid cancer.
Fred was not only a devoted family man and friend, he was very dedicated to the betterment of his community, serving in many volunteer roles over the course of his 58 years as a resident of Black River Falls. In the early years, he was a member of the local Jaycees and received an Outstanding Jaycee award. Starting in 1985, Fred served over 35 years with the Lions Club. During that time, he served as president and treasurer and was honored as a Melvin Jones Fellow in 2009.
A lifelong golfer along with Mary, Fred volunteered extensively over the years in service of Skyline Golf Course. He served on the Skyline Golf Course Board for four three-year terms, was president four different years, and served on the Skyline Finance Committee for many years. Fred was instrumental in adding a second nine holes to the Skyline Golf Course for 18-hole play. For his many contributions Fred received the Skyline Service Award.
Fred was as comfortable putting on his work boots and clearing trees for the “back nine” at Skyline or installing irrigation at the Field of Honor as he was crunching numbers in the meeting room. Fred was often tapped to lead or support fundraising efforts. He was proud to take part in fundraising for the new library, the Lunda Community Park, the Field of Honor, the Foundation Legacy Maintenance Fund and the Skyline Golf Course Legacy Foundation Fund. He also served as a trustee of the Black River Falls Area Foundation.
In 2007, Fred was honored to receive the Rotary International Service Above Self Award for his many years of dedication to the enrichment of the community. Although Fred was grateful for the awards received, he was most appreciative of the reward and satisfaction that came from working with so many friendly, talented and generous people in the community over the years.
In 2016, Fred met Carol Keen of Duluth, MN, and found in her a life partner for his later years. Fred was actually inspired to consider new companionship by reading the obituaries. He found that life and love can be found anew at any age. Fred and Carol enjoyed wintering in Gulf Shores, Alabama, spending cabin time on the lake in northern Wisconsin during summers and collaborating on woodworking and home improvement projects.
Fred made the trip of a lifetime to ancestral Norway in 2019 along with Carol, his three daughters and other family members, visiting ancestors’ farm sites and their respective churches. A special place to visit was the Stai Station railroad depot in Stai, Norway.
Fred is survived by his life partner of six years, Carol Keen; his three daughters, Sandy (Michael Schnabel) of Chaska, MN, Karen (Jim) Koenigs of Black River Falls and Sarah (Kevin Hoffman) of Hudson, WI; grandchildren Brandon, Dylan and Jaden Schnabel, Kacey and Jayme Koenigs and Samuel, Joseph and Gabriel Hoffman; sister Virginia Clipper of Whitehall, WI, brother Harry (Barb) Stai of Menomonie, WI; and several nephews and nieces. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lanth Stai, sister Marilyn (Stai) Johnson, wife Mary (Kubina) Stai and four nephews.
A celebration of life for family and friends will be held at Skyline Golf Course Saturday, Aug. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. with a short program at 3 p.m. The family held a private burial for Fred at Riverside Cemetery. Torgerson’s Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, Fred requested that donations be given to the Black River Falls Area Foundation Skyline Golf Course Fund.