Obituary of Stanley Jack Dillmann

With broken hearts, we announce that the angels came to take our loving, kind, and caring Stanley Dillmann, age 70, home to heaven on October 8, 2022, from Mesa, Arizona. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, October 25, 2022, at the Meldrum funeral home chapel at 52 N Macdonald, Mesa, Arizona, with burial at the Gilbert Memorial Park, in Gilbert, Arizona. Stanley came into this world on December 7, 1951, to his dearest mother, Donna Mae (Cross), and father, Jack Dillmann of Solen. He was raised on the family farm near Solen, where he developed a love for fixing things. He attended school in the area and earned his high school diploma in Oceanside, CA. In August 1969, he decided he had had enough of living at home and enlisted with the US Marine Corps to serve his country. Stanley's service to his country took him to California, North Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan. Upon his honorable discharge in September 1971, he returned to North Dakota, started his automotive career, and worked for AVCO Finance in Jamestown. He owned and operated the Car Clinic and Ace Auto and Truck Repair in Williston for many years before retiring to Bismarck. He married Marcella Chase in October 1973. To this relationship were two sons. Christopher and SJ. Stanley and Marcella amicably ended their marriage and remained friends until his passing. Stanley first met Kay Bernice Grenz in November 1974. A year later, they had their first date. As Stanley told the story, she was stolen from him, and he found her again on February 14, 2008. Determined not to lose her a second time, he cleverly involved Marcella to be his lookout while he shopped for a ring to propose to her. Quietly waiting for him to pop the question, Marcella became impatient and asked what he was waiting for this time. He told her he needed to do it right to get the right answer. Stanley did it right, and he married the love of his life on December 30, 2011. Stanley's marriage to Kay Bernice fulfilled his wish for another opportunity to be a dad. He became a gaga to Kay Bernice's son Gary who has disabilities. Stanley loved being gaga to Gary, and he would take him everywhere. Stanley and Gary were inseparable; he taught him many things. The two of them could turn a trip to the grocery store into a 3-hour adventure and return home with nothing needed. Stanley, the lifelong mechanic he was, decided to set Gary up with his toolbox and workstation so they could work on things together. He even found a little motor that he could show Gary how to take apart. He took Gary's life to a new level. Stanley encouraged him to express himself, seek out his dreams and live life to the fullest daily. He loved Gary deeply, always looking for Gary's well-being and protecting him. Gary is at a loss, missing his beloved gaga. Stanley had another dream, and that was to have a daughter. His marriage to Kay Bernice came with a daughter too. Although he wasn't able to show and be the gaga he was to Gary, to daughter, Sherrie his love for both of these two children was real and in his mind he accepted these children as his and called them his son and his daughter until his passing. He leaves behind the love of his life, Kay Bernice, and son Gary in Arizona. His son Christopher and his wife Cathy, in North Dakota. A son SJ in Colorado. A daughter Sherrie in Oregon. Grandchildren, Courtney, Gabriel and Gavin, Mandan, and Alice of Oregon. His great-grandchildren, Aurora, Alec, and Raven of Mandan. He is survived by his favorite sister, Lori, of Michigan. Other siblings include Joyce Schmidt-Boehm in Mandan, Gerald in Colorado, Bill in Mandan, Candace in Texas, James in Colorado, and his mother-in-law, Annie Grenz of Arizona. Nieces, Nephews, and his special friend, Clea Fairaizl. He was preceded in death by his sister Virginia, his mother, Donna and Stepfather Dale Gullickson, Father Jack Dillmann, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Our Stanley was the best mechanic of his time. He had enormous patience for repairing things, his son Gary, and life. He loved woodworking and was incredibly proud of the "Sugar Shack" he built a few years ago where he could stash the candy and sodas from his wife. He was an excellent grill master and could grill a steak that never needed a condiment. In the '70s, he made the best Tiger Meat in town. When he reconnected with Kay, they reminisced through memories when the topic of his famous Tiger meat came up. He told her he couldn't remember his recipe anymore; it had been too long since he made it. She pulled her recipe box and took out his 33-year-old Tiger Meat recipe. The joyous look on his face said it all, and the two wasted no time making up a batch; of course, Stanley introduced Gary to this well remembered appetizer. We go now, having to learn to live in the sunshine of his life rather than the darkness of his death. Stanley, we will love and miss you forever, sweetheart. Cemetery Details Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery 2100 E. Queen Creek Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85297 Loading map Previous Events Funeral Service OCT 25. 11:00 AM (MT) Meldrum Mortuary 52 N Macdonald Mesa, AZ 85201 info@meldrummortuary.com https://www.meldrummortuary.com Loading map