Stan McWhinnie

Stan McWhinnie

January 14, 2025

A storied life.

Stan McWhinnie, 92, of Denver, Colorado, passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. As his loving wife, Liz, attests, Stan lived a storied life—both as a storyteller and as the subject of many more stories during his colorful life.

He was born on August 4, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His family moved to southern California when he was 3 years of age.

Stan learned at an early age the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings and potential threats to his safety. He often commented that his twin brother Larry had wanted to be an only child—and told many stories about ways young Larry tried to get him out of the picture.

No one knows for sure how many of the stories were exaggerated because of Stan’s customary embellishment of the tales he told, or if he truly had to remain vigilant at all times. Regardless, in their adult years the siblings became and remained very close until Larry’s death in 2016.

Anyone who knew Stan was treated to the many stories he told of his life—including growing up in the Pepsi Cola business working for his father’s bottling plant, joining the Navy during the Korean conflict and being stationed with the Marines at El Toro air station in southern California, and earning his way home as a ship’s cook on a 50-foot sailboat from Hawaii to California after a semester at the University of Hawaii.

Stan was a consummate salesperson, negotiator, and treasure hunter as well as storyteller. He sold everything from cars to spittoons and was named the “Spittoon King” by a radio personality. In the 1960s, he served as an aide to a California politician, selling both ideologies and image to voters. In later years, he continued politically-centric activities on Facebook, where he frequently shared his opinions. There never was any question where he stood on any subject!

In childhood, he became fascinated with treasure hunting in many forms. This fascination became an adult preoccupation with, and passion for, estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores. 

When not pursuing his hunter-gatherer avocation, Stan worked on his dreams of striking it rich in the stock market, at casinos, and through various offbeat and creative inventions he developed over the years.

In the end, his greatest treasures were his family. In the 1970s, he married and fathered three children—Jessica, Christina, and JD. In 2000, he met Liz and together they acquired and rehabbed multiple properties. 

Stan and Liz also traveled regularly, within the US and abroad. One of Stan’s most memorable traveling experiences was a visit to Scotland, the home of his ancestors.

He had planned to live to at least 100, following in the footsteps of his mother who lived to 103, but cancer took him early.

Stan is survived by his wife, Liz Isaacson, daughters Jessica and Christina (Paul), and son JD, as well as granddaughters Sadiki and Orilla and grandson August.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 pm Tuesday, January 28 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 901 South Sheridan Boulevard. Viewing will be from 2-2:30, and a reception will follow at the funeral home reception room. Private interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery.