Isaac Stayer

Isaac D. Stayer, 30, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away Friday, February 16, 2024, at the Sanford USD Medical Center & Hospital surrounded by family and friends.

Funeral services will be at Eastside Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m.on Friday, February 23, 2024, with a luncheon to follow.  Family will be present at Heritage Funeral Home for visitation from 4:00- 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

Isaac Daniel Stayer and his twin brother Zachary were born August 26, 1993, in Waukesha, WI.  Their adoptive parents, Carlton & Laurinda Stayer, took them home to Sun Prairie, WI, where the boys were always together and had an extra connection as twins. As they got older they hunted, skateboarded, and played basketball and video games together.  

As a boy, Isaac was meticulous about everything being in place. He liked to imitate things he saw, especially his mom’s choral conducting. He developed a close friendship with Grandma Atz at the age of 3 when they moved to the family farm. Always inventive, Legos became his toy of choice.  And it was on the farm that his birth sister Samantha joined the family by adoption, making the duo into a trio.

As a 4 year old, Isaac asked Mom how to ask Jesus to be his Savior.  He prayed that day, making that decision and served the Lord over the years in church and at Bible Impact Ministries in St. James, MO, where his parents were missionaries.  He served in many capacities doing bus ministry, singing, playing guitar, and doing puppets with his family.  He had a heart for people, especially the older ladies who adored him.

Isaac began his education with Mom homeschooling him through 6th grade. Although reading didn’t come easy for Isaac, he had an insatiable desire to learn about how to do things and how things worked.  Isaac also attended Tri-City Christian School in Independence, MO for a few months while his dad was deployed in 2003.  He attended Landmark Christian Academy in Rolla, MO, for 7th-11th grade and graduated from Rolla High School in 2013.

Over the years Isaac’s artistic abilities became very evident, and after taking an art class, he began trying his hand at different mediums.  But his first love was music.  His mom taught him piano, and he taught himself guitar.  For a few years, he played guitar in the bands Sound Trapp and Trustfall as lead guitarist.  He also developed his skill as a music producer, becoming very talented at mixing sound tracks. In the past few years he enjoyed watching cooking shows and experimenting with making recipes.

Isaac blossomed into a very caring adult who was always concerned for others, commiserating with them in their troubles. He even would try to learn something new that was of interest to new friends so he could converse with them about it. Even in death Isaac blessed others by donating his organs.  He was very spontaneous and adventurous, and his laugh was contagious.  He enjoyed hunting and sports. And he was always looking for a good pun that would make his mom laugh.  He was very grateful for his adoptive parents.

After graduating from high school, he had numerous jobs beginning at Walmart.  After that he worked as an auto mechanic, deli attendant, O’Reilly’s counter salesman, and Walman Optical eyeglass grinder. He became a pretty good salesman, and had just been moved to the sales department at Walman. He had lived in St. Louis and Kansas City before ending up in Sioux Falls.

As a groomsman in his sister’s wedding in 2015, Isaac walked with Stephanie Collins, and an instant attraction was evident.  He proposed to her the summer of 2020, and they were married June 5, 2021. Isaac and Stephanie brought out the best in each other, him bringing her out of her shell, and her tempering his outgoing spontaneity.  They both had an eye for artistic design and loved creating artwork together.  Isaac valued memories over gifts so they took many trips together, many times including his best friend Seth Rawlinson. They were both excited about the new baby, and Isaac was trying to get his life together to be a good dad.

Isaac is survived by his wife Stephanie and unborn baby, his parents Carlton & Laurinda Stayer, his twin brother Zachary, sister Samantha, nephew Myles Stayer, and paternal grandparents Arthur and Marie Stayer as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.  He also is survived by his birth mother and several birth siblings, a niece and nephew.  He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Alvin & Elva Atz and his birth father.