Martin Stanley "Peppy" Stiansen

1931 - 2023

Martin Stanley "Peppy" Stiansen

Martin Stanley "Peppy" Stiansen, 91, of Mt. Bethel, PA went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, March 6th, 2023. His last days and hours were spent at home, surrounded by the love of his Family.

Peppy was born in his favorite borough, Brooklyn NY, on August 1, 1931, a son of the late Martin and Ruth (Jacobsen) Stiansen. He was the husband of Mary Ann (Pettersen) Stiansen. They would have celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary on April 12th.

He was a 1949 graduate of Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, and also attended Fergus Falls Bible School in Minnesota.

Peppy proudly served as a police officer for the NYPD in New York City where he was a part of the elite Emergency Service Unit, until retiring in 1975. Peppy also worked, for many years, as the foreman of specialty wood mill projects at H.S. Farrell, Staten Island, NY. His interests and capabilities were many.

Peppy proudly served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1951-1953, while stationed in Whittier, Alaska, and was a member of Mt. Bethel - Portland American Legion Post 216.

Peppy was a member of Mt. Bethel Church in Pennsylvania for 42 years where he was an Elder, started the Mission Board, and was a member of the MBC “Boys Club.” He was also a Deacon at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Staten Island and a member of 59th Street Lutheran Brethren Church in Brooklyn where he was active in the “Junior League.” Many of his favorite lifetime memories were those of the “old crowd”. Peppy also served on the Board of Directors for 42 years and as Vice President at Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, PA. He also served on the Men’s Planning Board at Camp Spofford in New Hampshire.

In addition to his wife, Mary Ann, Peppy is survived by a daughter, Gayle Ahrens, wife of John E., a son, Gregg M. Stiansen, husband of Linda, four grandchildren; Dr. Kristen A. Bentson, wife of Dr. Scott, John M. Ahrens, husband of Toni, Kari Stiansen, and her fiancé Derick Agbozo, and Erik Stiansen. He is survived by four great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Greyson Bentson, and Jaxon and Chloe Ahrens. He was preceded in death by his brothers Eugene Stiansen, who died as an infant, Robert Vaughn, his wife Marian, and his stepmother, Dorothy. 

Some of Peppy‘s favorite places on earth were, Rockport, Mass. with strudel, Spring Lake with a tomato tower, Ocean Beach in a beach chair, his backyard with his family, and any place with Mary Ann. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 11th at Mt. Bethel Church, 1270 Belvidere Corner Rd, Mt Bethel, PA. Dinner and visitation with the family are to follow at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center. All are welcome. 

Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Gaffney Parsons Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., "Village of Johnsonville," Bangor, PA. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center, 3300 River Road, Mt. Bethel, PA 18343, or Mount Bethel Church, 1270 Belvidere Corner Rd, Mt Bethel, PA 18343.