Stanley Wiener

Stan “spike” Wiener of Stan’s Radiator and Stan and Gene’s Salvage; of Pine City, passed away Wednesday (10/12/2011) at his home on Cross Lake in Pine City at the age of 84 years after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a family man, a friend to many, and a fair and honest business man for many years in the community. Stan is survived by his wife Alice, children: Les (Linda) Wiener of Pine City, MN, Steve (Pam) Wiener of Pine City, MN, Janet (Tom) Garin of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Lee (Julie) Wiener, of Pine City, MN, Bruce (Cindy) Wiener of Cave Creek, Arizona, Hiedi (Scott) Cornelius of Pine City, MN, 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and his sister-in-law Pat Wiener of Pine City, MN. many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by parents Ernest & Mary Wiener, grandson Jerrad Wiener, Brother Gene Wiener, sisters Dorothy and Rose. Stan was born February 8, 1927, in Hinckley, MN to Ernest Eugene Wiener and Mary Elizabeth (Zeman) Wiener, the youngest of three children. His Mom passed away when he was only two and his Dad when he was four years old. He enjoyed sharing memories about his Dad and his Grandpa owning a Merry-Go-Round and he was allowed to ride on it, all he wanted, for free. At a young age he acquired the self-given nickname “Spike”, which he carried with him for his lifetime. He attended various country schools east of Hinckley and the Meadowlawn School, east of Pine City, through the 8th grade. At approximately the age of 13, he headed out to be on his own. He did many odd jobs including harvesting in western Minnesota and working on the Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD. His older brother Gene joined him on some of these adventures. Stan was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1944. He was trained as a tank driver, but when he transferred to Europe, he drove Jeeps for officers. He was discharged in 1946, returning to the Pine City area. At this time he met the girl he would share 63 years of married life with, Alice Anita Bjorklund. They were married January 24, 1948, in Robbinsdale, MN. To support himself and his new wife, he started Stan’s Radiator Service in Pine City, in 1949, doing some trucking on the side. He soon started scrapping metal, a career and hobby he continued until the summer of 2009. In 1958 Stan, Alice and children, Leslie, Steven, Janet and Lee, moved into their home they built on the east side of Cross Lake, in which they still reside. The addition of two more children, Bruce and Hiedi made the family complete. There has been many memorable family picnics and gatherings held at their home on the lake. In the summer they included boat rides, swimming and water skiing. The annual 4th of July Family Potluck is a favorite which includes many family friends. Family gatherings also included card games, which Stan always enjoyed. With his help, many of the grandkids, and great grandkids, have learned to play a good competitive game of cards. In 1959 Stan and Gene purchased a salvage yard north of Pine City, which became Stan & Gene’s Radiator and Salvage. Stan worked hard and put in many long hours to make the business a success and to support his family. Through the years Stan and Alice enjoyed traveling with various family members. Their travels included Yellowstone, California, Alaska, and Europe. There were also many fishing trips to Canada with Gene and others. In the later years, Stan and Alice decided to spend the winter months in Mission, Texas. They started with a pickup camper, and then moved on to a fifth wheel trailer parked on a lot they purchased. They made many good and lasting friendships with the people they met while being Winter Texans. The kids were able to join them in Texas to help celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. A passion of Stan’s was the cars he owned and drove when he was young. To regain those years, he purchased three restored vehicles; 1931 Model A Roadster Rumble Seat, 1932 Model B, and 1948 GMC Half Ton. Stan and Alice enjoyed many Sunday drives with the old cars. The cars were also popular with the rest of the family for a little drive around town. A couple other passions of Stan’s were old tractors and auctions. Through the years he restored multiple tractors, including his current tractor and a favorite, an Oliver Super 55. Alice and he attended many tractor shows with family and friends. Auctions he attended were a place to pick up scrap metal or anything else he could make some Texas spending money on. Through the years the kids all married and honored Stan with 15 grandchildren. A few years passed and he became known as Great Grandpa Wiener by 17 great grandchildren. And Great he was!! All the things Stan did and accomplished in his life, none were as important to him as his family. Stan was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Pine City, Pine City American Legion and the Pine City VFW. Rev. Ron Boettner will officiate at a funeral service to be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, (October 17, 2011) at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City with a time of visitation and reviewal Sunday, (October 16, 2011) from 4-7 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Interment will take place in Hustletown Union Cemetery, northeast of Pine City. A family memorial designation is the St. Jude Hospice. Funeral arrangements are with the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City - Swanson Chapel.