Stanley Marion Grubin died after a long battle with cancer in Pittsburg, Kansas on May 25, 2022, at the age of 92.
Stan is survived by his children Marty Grubin and wife Leslie (Dunwoody, GA), Lucy Gladbach and husband Jim (Deerfield, MO), Marcia Haskell (Aliso Viejo, CA) and Nancy Jensen (Pittsburg, KS); siblings, Wanda Turre (Cherry Hills, CO), Charlie Grubin (Anchorage, AL) and Diane Shranz (Denver, CO). He has 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his spouses Mary Grubin and Joyce Grubin; daughter Cindy Beshara, siblings Edward Mazur, Thomas Thompson, Walt Mazur, Eugene Grubin, Chester Grubin, Eugenia Grubin and Jeanette Grubin.
Stan was born on November 6, 1929, in Colorado Springs, CO to Eugene and Wanda Grubin. His parents emigrated from Poland and raised 11 children on a farm in Colorado during the Great Depression. At the age of 13, he left home riding freight trains across the western United States looking for work. He worked various jobs including hunting bears that were decimating sheep ranches, driving ambulances, and acting as a bouncer at a local ballroom. He joined the Army in 1952 and served as a sharpshooter in the Korean War. Stan served his country with distinction receiving commendations for his expertise in winter warfare.
After the Korean War, Stan returned to Colorado and married Mary Jean Saam. They welcomed five children over the next eight years. Stan graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Electrical Engineering while working for Western Electric as a telephone cable installer. In 1960, Stan was promoted to Department Chief, Industrial Relations in New York City. While living in Randolph Township, New Jersey, Stan was elected Mayor and was active in the Urban League in Newark, New Jersey. Over his 37-year career at Western Electric, he managed thousands of workers at several large manufacturing plants in Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas.
Stan retired to Laguna Niguel, CA in 1982 and in 1997 moved to Fairhope, Alabama. As one who never shied away from the spotlight, Stan volunteered to be the Grand Marshall of the Fairhope Christmas Parade, made his presence known on the golf course and nurtured new friendships at St. Thomas Hospital where he purportedly worked out, but was mostly seen drinking coffee and holding court. He spent time with dear friends, Jason, and Michele Braly, and attended Saint Lawrence Catholic Church.
For those who knew Stan, he had a larger-than-life presence and never met a stranger. His children remember him as a loving father with a great sense of humor who encouraged them to pursue their dreams.
A memorial service will be held at a future date in Fairhope AL. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either Presbyterian Village Good Samaritan Fund or Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
