Stan Quinn, Bennington, 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Ottawa County Health Center in Minneapolis.
Stan was born on May 20, 1929 in Altadena. CA to Clarence ‘C.B.’ and Theresa (Chapman) Quinn. The Quinn family first came to Kansas from Ireland in the late 1850s and has always ‘worked the land.’
Stan graduated from BHS in 1947 and was a partner in the family’s registered-Holstein dairy business and farming operation. He married Jacquetta Sue Wessel on August 18, 1951 at Ft. Lewis, Washington, shortly before spending two years in Germany, serving in the Army during the Korean War. Stan described his years in Europe as culturally enlightening and a spark from which he encouraged his children’s participation in the arts. Music was important to Stan. His strong bass voice blended well when he sang at school, church and with Salina barbershop singers. Stan loved to dance and particularly enjoyed big band and Southern Gospel music.
During his 41-year farming career, Stan delighted in caring for his cattle, which in later years included an outstanding cow-calf herd of registered Beefalo. Stan innovated and introduced to the area a wheat-rye-oat hybrid called triticale - a unique forage and seed crop. He was an active horse show and 4-H dad, and served on the national board of the American Beefalo World Registry. Stan loved his blue heeler dogs and all animals under his care.
Along with farming and raising his family, Stan sold fencing and cattle-feeding equipment to help other producers be more successful. Over the years, he and Sue enjoyed shopping for antiques and refinishing furniture.
Although not college-educated, Stan believed in life-long learning and mentored numerous young people to successful careers. Among his most rewarding hours were teaching son Jay, who was a quick learner, the ins and outs of farm-machinery maintenance and repair, or traveling with daughter Kay to compete in horse shows and rodeos.
Stan and Sue retired to his childhood farm in 1994. He gave his time and talents to help build and grow Bennington Bible Church, serving as deacon. Stan was never shy about sharing his faith and often talked about God and his healing power as he did everyday tasks alongside others. Stan’s civic involvements include helping establish BIG (Bennington Improvement Group) in 1995 and was a member of the Bennington Lions Club and VFW Post 3201.
Stan is survived by wife Sue, son Jay and daughter Kay; brother Bob (Karen) Quinn of Kiowa, CO; niece Brenda (Quinn) Fraser and family of Minneapolis, niece Jeannine (Bock) Green of Desert Hot Springs, CA and nephew Bobby Quinn and family of Fredericksburg, TX. Stan was preceded in death by his parents, his sister-in-law Joleen (Wessel) Bock and nephew Gary Bock.
Visitation without family present will be Sunday, December 27 from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Graveside services will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday at the Bennington Cemetery. Masks are required. Memorials are to the Bennington Bible Church or Bennington E.M.S. and may be mailed to Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.