Wilfred L. "Willie" Stang
Wilfred L. "Willie" Stang
Obituary
Guest Book
Wilfred Stang Obituary
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
June 19, 2009
Cynthia Stang
November 24, 2008
I am Wild Bill's daughter and Jim Klobuchar wrote this about my father. I wanted all those who loved him to be able to read this. Thanks Jim.
A Man of the West Wind Leaves Us
When you traveled with Bill Stang the echoes of America’s frontier days were never very distant. It didn’t matter whether it was in the snowfields of the Yellowstone or Alaska or the north country of Minnesota. Wild nature was his arena and his replenishment. He accepted its terms and reveled in its surprises and in the moments when he joined his own strength and curiosity with its power and then its peace.
He had an impulse to explore its secrets. And because he was also a kind of lifelong student of its whims and seasons, its animal life and both its gifts and hazards, Bill Stang could tell you more about the wild country than almost any man I knew. He could read a trail. He could see a bull bison with half a horn and tell you what happened, in detail. Where I saw tree top in a grove of Douglas Fir, Stang could see the beak of a raven. If I let him ramble on he could tell me whether it was male or female.
Whenever I traveled with him, I saw Bill Stang as a roughhouser in the snowfields and the builder of campfires and the minstrel around the fire with is jackpine epics. But skiing or hiking with him also gave me a glimpse of Jim Bridger and Buffalo Bill Cody and Kit Carson and the rest if the pathfinders and swashbucklers of the American West. Bill Stang belonged on the trail and the ridges with those now-legendary folks. What impelled all of them was the urge to know what was around the bend or over the hill. He could read the wind and the shifting sky and the sudden storm. He did more than deal with it. He rejoiced in all the rumble and clangor of it.
He was that kind of companion, a gregarious guy with a mischievous tick who loved to scheme another day on the bike trail or in the hills or to collect the latest sagas in the lives of his cronies, of whom he had dozens.
Bill Stang died at the age of 85 a few days ago in his home. A visitation will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Richfield MN at 66th and Nicollet Av. at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, with a service at 10:30 followed by a luncheon. His wife died two years before him and he lived alone. But he was hardly a solitary man in those later years. On the day he died he was to meet with a couple of his old traveling pals for the usual talkathon about things serious or gossipy. But what made those gatherings and campfire parties an end-to-end joy for him and the others was the pure reunion of it.
He had been a contractor and a builder and developer, and a good one. I was never sure whether it was that background or something deep under his skin that made him the most ingenious handyman I’ve ever seen in the woods.
Four of us skied one year through the heart of the great Hayden Valley in Yellowstone, in the middle of January. The National Park Service rarely gave permits for hairy undertakings like that. But we peeled out our credentials, attesting to our prudence and rigid commitment to the rules of the wild country. Beside that, I pointed out to the ranger, we had two lawyers in our group, Doug Kelley and Rod Wilson. The ranger wanted to know what value there was in that. I said they would be helpful in final arguments. Final arguments for what, the ranger wanted to know. I said they could decide which one goes for help in case we get stranded 30 miles from human life. Clearly baffled, the ranger wrote the permit.
But Stang was the star. We skied through a whiteout from Tower Junction over the Washburn Pass and on to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We skied through a 20 mile an hour headwind where hundreds of bison huddled massively and where grizzlies slept unseen. Coming down a long slope I stabbed the snow with one of my poles, which snapped near the snow basket. Skiing in that wilderness with one pole invited disaster.
Stang, 40 feet behind me, made an estimate of the situation. We had no real cure for a snapped ski pole in our handy bags. Stang scrounged in my back pack. “You have any of those plastic utensils in you mess kit?” I did. He took a four inch plastic fork and a four inch spoon and grafted them on the ski pole with some duct tape he had in his back pocket.
The pole lasted all the way to Yellowstone lodge four days away.
We had differences here and there, as most trail hardheads do, but he was a grand companion and an extraordinary human being, jauntily refusing to let the mounting hashmarks of age squeeze out the everlasting youth in him. Two years ago we biked one last stretch of ten miles together, into a really ugly headwind on the way to Pine River, MN. We took turns leading, then one of us said, possibly guessing we would not do this together again: “Let’s go one more mile side by side like grumpy old men.”
We weren’t grumpy, but we rode together one more and last mile.
He was a trouper, a companion and a man to remember.
----Jim Klobuchar
Linda McDermott
November 7, 2008
To Bill's Family,
Through Three River's Park District I have known Bill for 18 years. I enjoyed his humor, energy and positive spin on life. I will miss him. Prayers to you all.
Dori/Chuck Leininger
November 6, 2008
Bill's Family:
I am so happy I came to Bill's birthday gathering. It had been many years since I had seen him and was so happy to have shared his moment with him. He was a wonderful person that lived life to its fullest. God Bless to all of the family!
How you can show support
Notify Me
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Mitchell Berry
November 6, 2008
Kathryn and Family,
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.All my thoughts and Prayers are with you in this time of grief.
Byron R
November 5, 2008
It was an honor and privilege serving with Bill on the Three Rivers Park Patrol and he will be missed.
Doug Lindberg
November 5, 2008
To Bill's Family:
I and Bill signed up as a volunteer bike leaders for The Road Explorers and Park Patrols in 1986 and have many fond and fun memories of Bill. If it had not been for Bill I would not have gone cross country skiing at Yellowstone with him and Jim Klobuchar in the early 1990's. I just saw him at 1st aid training 2 weeks ago with his new motorcycle and away he went. We had many good times together mostly cross country skiing as Park Patrols and will miss him a lot. There will never be a man like Bill again. I will pray for you as his family during this time of celebration of Bill's life and also the sadness you must feel.
Doug Lindberg
Remona and Jason Berthiaume
November 5, 2008
The years have passed all too quickly, but friends are here forever. I and Jason will hold Bill and his family in great esteem forever.
Susan Struble McKinstry Mart
November 5, 2008
Iam sorry to hear of your loss I remember when your family lived on 54th street and Annunciation Grade School where we were classmates then your folks moved to Dupont Ave by where my Mom still lives, I drive by your folks house going to my Moms and think of your family often. I do remember him as a very viberent man! Sue Mart
Always the joker...
November 4, 2008
Wild Bill
November 4, 2008
Anice Flesh
November 4, 2008
As a fellow patroller, I will miss Bill and his great sense of humor.
Peggy L Miller
November 4, 2008
As a "rookie" park patroller for Three Rivers Parks, I appreciate the time Bill had invested to this cause. He will be missed among our ranks as a volunteer!
Our thoughts are with Bill's family.
Vi Olson
November 4, 2008
To Bill's family,
Being a biking friend of Bill's, I want you to know how fond we were of Wild Bill and what an inspiration he was. He was indeed larger than life and his presence, good humor and friendship will be missed by many.
Jody Cahoy
November 4, 2008
Kathryn and family...I love hearing the stories and memories of your parents! They're back together now, dancing on the clouds. May all the wonderful memories you have of them carry you through your grief.
Bev Giem
November 4, 2008
Kathryn & Family:
My deepest condolences are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you during this sad time.
Bev
Showing 1 - 16 of 16 results
Make a Donation
in Wilfred Stang's name
People and places connected with Wilfred
How to support Wilfred's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Wilfred Stang's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
Sponsored