Obituary of Stanley Starr

Stanley Dean Starr was born on October 17, 1924 in Cambridge, MN delivered at home on 2nd Street and Fern by Dr. Shelene, a woman physician, on horse and buggy. Always interested in airplanes, even as a toddler, he sat in his high chair and flew his carrots as if they were planes. Stanley started attending Cambridge Baptist Church as a young boy where he accepted Christ as his Savior. He was active in Boy Scouts with the Wilson twins as leaders. Stanley was a good student and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1942 as Salutatorian of his class. At 17 years young, Stan enlisted in the Navy Air Corps and was trained at various aircraft centers. Stanley received his wings after he landed on an aircraft carrier on Lake Michigan out of Chicago. He was greeted with the news that "the war was over" and that he could pack up and check out of the service right then! He was tickled he got his "wings" (a life-long challenge) and didn't have to fight in any battles to do it! After the navy, he entered Bethel College in St. Paul where he had his first two college years and then moved to Illinois and enrolled at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Before he left the Navy and Chicago, he met Alice Jane Bilhorn through her older brother, Merlyn, who was a navy buddy, and was invited out to their home in Chicago several times. In 1948 Stan and Alice Jane re-met at Wheaton College - she as a freshman and he as a junior. They began to date and became engaged the spring of 1949. They married in August of 1950 after Stan's college graduation. After a year of post-graduate studies, Stan informed his wife that God was calling him into the ministry and they were going to move to St. Paul, Minnesota where he would attend Bethel Seminary. So they packed up 16 month old Nancy and moved up north. After two more years in seminary and graduation, they were called to a BGC Church in Chicago, where Stan was an assistant pastor and youth pastor to Rev. Bruce Fleming. After 3 years there, Stan was called to become full time pastor at Spring Lake Park Baptist Church in Minnesota. This time they packed up Nancy (5), Becky (2 ½) and baby Stephen. They lived in a lovely parsonage and ministered there for about 9 years. While there, Carol and Priscilla were born into the family. Then they received a call to a new BGC Church in Eden Prairie where Janet was born. After 3 ½ years there, Stan wanted to get back into aviation, so he became an instructor at Anoka County Airport and spent 2 years teaching and enjoying flying again. Then a church called him to Lake Forest, Illinois where the family moved and Stan spent the next 10 years pastoring. After that last pastorate in Illinois, Stan went into social work in Chicago working for the Safer Foundation, counseling and helping ex-offenders find jobs and places to live. Later, both Stan and Alice Jane, with all children out on their own, retired to Edgerton, Wisconsin to care for Alice Jane's ill parents. Eventually, Stan gave in to that personal urge he had for so long - to build his own airplane and have his own personal hanger at the Cambridge Airport. God made this possible and it all came to pass. Stanley is survived by his loving wife Alice Jane of Cambridge; children Nancy (Steve Nielsen) Starr of Grand Marais, Becky (Sergio Miramontes) Starr of Sacramento, California, Stephen Starr of Evanston, Illinois, Carol (Stafford) Carpenter of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Priscilla (Ken Waller) Starr of St. Michael, and Janet (Jeff) Warren of Manitou Springs, Colorado; 12 Grandchildren; 5 Great Grandchildren; and one sister Marilyn Starr of Shoreview.