Stanford H. "Tank" Sholem

Stanford Howard Sholem Rochester, Minn. - Stanford H. "Tank" Sholem, 97, formerly of Champaign, passed away Thursday (Nov. 6, 2025) at The Charter House, Rochester, Minn., his home for the last 15 years. Stanford was born at Mercy Hospital in Urbana on June 13, 1928, to Faye Siegal Sholem and Jerome J. Sholem of Champaign. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Myron "Mike" Sholem (Sonya), formerly of Champaign, Walter Sholem (died in infancy) and William Sholem (Constance, deceased) of London, England; and a grandson, Thomas Frankel. Stanford is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Amalie Borchardt (Steve) of Rochester, Jane Kearney (Joe) of San Jose, Calif., and Daniel (Tracy) Sholem of Champaign; grandchildren, Andrew Glasser Frankel (Ann) of Hudson, Wis., Elizabeth Glasser Frankel (Felicia) of Elizabeth, Colo., Ryan Grace Sholem of Chicago and Brooke Catherine Sholem of Los Angeles; and great-grandchildren, Ezekial Steven Clipsham, Sara Rose Frankel, Madeline Jane Frankel and Ethan Patrick Frankel. Stanford attended South Side and Dr. Howard grade schools in Champaign and graduated from University High School on "D" Day, June 6, 1944, a week before his 16th birthday. He earned a B.A. from the University of Illinois School of Commerce, where he completed the Air Force ROTC program and was a member of the Scabbard & Blade Honor Society and the ZBT fraternity. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Stanford served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations for two years. Following his military service, Stanford, in partnership with his brother, Mike, expanded the Sholem Shoes Company that was founded by his grandfather in Paris, Ill. He was especially proud of continuing the company's community involvement and operating the more-than-100-year-old shoe-store business with his brother. Stanford served as a board member of the National Shoe Retailers Association for over a decade and as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois, where he taught retail management and required students to stand while speaking in class. Stanford was a proud Rotarian, being a member of the Urbana club for over 50 years and attending regularly in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and Rochester. He was a board member of the Champaign Loan & Building Association and a member of Sinai Temple in Champaign, along with B'nai Israel Synagogue in Rochester. In 1956, Stanford married Susan Glasser Sholem, his bride for over 69 years, in Glencoe, and raised their family in Champaign. Trying to impress her on their first date, he took Susan to Mel Root's Diner in downtown Urbana for cheesecake. Susan and Tank enjoyed decades of summer sunsets at their home in Ephraim, Wis., where they first went on vacation in 1967. Later, they relished every detail in the design and build-out of their log cabin on North Shore Road and the friendships they made with neighbors, other members of the Ephraim Foundation, the Ephraim Historical Society, the Ephraim Men's Club and just about anyone who asked for guidance on what to see or do while traveling in Door County. Door County was a good place for Tank to pursue his passions for sailing, beef short ribs, strawberry-rhubarb pie and local history. You can learn about his love for the area by reading the book he authored, "Horse Shoe Island - The Folda Years," published in 1998. Each of his grandchildren will remember "Grandpa Tank" for taking them to the Farm Petting Zoo, sailing in Green Bay, having small toys for them on his desk and racing go-karts with them at age 88. Turning strangers into close friends through shared experiences and recognizing others' hard work was always on Tank's mind. He loaned his car to strangers stranded at airports, mentored young Air Force enlisted men stationed at Chanute Air Force Base and supported places of worship that were not his own while making lifelong friends in each case. Tank also loved Durkee Sauce, 4711 Cologne and banjo music. Memorial services will be held at Charter House on Friday, Nov. 14, at 10:30 a.m. Private burial will take place in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Champaign. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Champaign Park District Foundation for the benefit of the Sholem Aquatic Center at champaignparks.org or by calling 217-819-3808.