Clear, 73° F
(Jan. 2, 2004)
Jack Richard Stahn, a life-loving, generous, and humorous man, peacefully passed away in the presence of family members at his home on January 2, 2004 following a lengthy illness. He was born on January 19, 1918 in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Lingle, Wyoming with his parents, John and Cleta, when he was eight. They moved to Powell in 1929 when he was eleven.
After his mother died, Jack grew up spending summers in the Powell area. He attended school in Omaha, Nebraska with his Grandmother Stahn and Aunt Beulah (Boodie) Stahn. He graduated high school in Omaha and attended Creighton University for his D.D.S. degree.
He met the love of his life, Rose Norton, in Omaha, and they married in 1942; they had 51 loving years together.
Jack joined the Army Medical Corps as a dentist in 1943 and spent time in England and France during World War II. After his discharge from the military, Jack and Rose moved their family to Powell, where he joined his father's dental practice. Jack practiced dentistry for 50 years serving the Powell area. Jack was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the Eagles, the American Legion, the Elks Club, and was one of the inaugural members of the Powell Kiwanis Club.
Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman, and had a lifelong love of horses. He often told how he would ride his horse from Powell to Cody as a child. Jack truly loved the Shady Boreen, the family cabin on the North Fork, where there are many happy memories with family and friends. Jack was always up for a good game of cards, especially Cribbage (he was the best!). Jack loved Wyoming, with its natural splendor and good people. He stated many times that he had never met a man he didn't like, and that is the way he lived his life.
After Rose's death in 1993, Jack married longtime friend, Ruth Sipe, in 1995. He spent his remaining years with her companionship. Jack is preceded in death by his first wife, Rose, his mother, Cleta, his father, John, and his daughters, Karen Anicito, Toni Wren, Teresa Stahn, and his stepmother, Isadore Stahn.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, his children; Jeff and Elvira Stahn of Tohatchi, NM, son-in-law, Sal Anicito of Miami, FL, Joni and Johnny Hazlitt of Arvada, CO, Geri and Dan Prell of Powell, WY, and Tomi and Mike Welsh of Manistee, MI, Marta and Dan Conlon of Corona, CA; his 22 grandchildren; Joel, Jeanette, and Jolynn Stahn, Joseph and Jacob Damon, Trena Gumuscian, Jody Cunningham, Kris Long, Suzanne Santos, Tracy Gilmore, Tasha Plew, Tamera and Todd Wren, Jason and Jill Hazlitt, Vicki Burke, Rocky Melger, Casy and Kelly Welsh, and Danici, Graham, and Katie Conlon; his 26 great-grandchildren; his 2 great-great-grandchildren; his sisters; Nicki Anderson and Julanne Weisberg, his brother, John, his cousin, Maxine Stell, who was like a sister to him, and his faithful dog, Fritzie.
Visitation was Monday, January 5, 2004, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home, Powell. Services will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Powell, Wyoming. Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery with the Powell Veterans Honor Guard according military honors. Memories of Jack will be shared following the burial at the VFW in Powell. Memorial contributions may be made to: Powell Valley Hospice, 777 Ave. H, Powell, WY 82435.
