Robert Stanek

Friday, January 3, 2020

Robert Stanek, 63, of Mountain Home, passed away December 27, 2019 at home surrounded by family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Robert was born December 8, 1956 in Queens, New York to Calvin and Mary (Gleason) Stanek, the third of four children. The family moved to Ormond Beach, Florida where Rob graduated from Seabreeze High School. After graduation, Rob moved to Mountain Home and later joined the US Army, where he served from 1981-1984. Following his military service, he returned to Mountain Home and worked for several local businesses before becoming a civil service employee at Mountain Home Air Force Base, where he worked for civil engineering for 24 years until his retirement in April of 2019.

Rob was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed snowmobiling, jet boating, camping, rafting, riding his Harley Davidson, and especially fly fishing. He could be found wading many rivers throughout Idaho, Oregon and Washington, casting for steelhead and salmon.

Robert’s greatest love was his family. His love for the outdoors brought him to raise his twin sons close to Anderson Ranch Dam in the mountains of Idaho. Many of Rob’s fondest memories are of living and raising his sons in the mountains alongside his mother and father who lived just down the mountain from him. In 2016, Rob married his love, Sue, and they set out on many adventures, exploring the country by motorcycle, by raft and by foot, sharing their love of exploring and sharing new places. Robert especially loved teasing and playing with the grandchildren, leaving them with fond memories of a loving, energetic papa. Robert was full of life and lived his short life to the fullest. He achieved and experienced more in his 63 years than most people do in 100 years. Robert’s caring, wild and loving personality will be greatly missed by all family and friends.

Rob is survived by his wife, Susan; his sons, Joshua and his wife Danielle Stanek of Boise, and Travis Stanek of Boise; two stepsons, Jeremy Ford of Mountain Home and Matt Ford and his wife Jennifer of Meridian; his father, Calvin Stanek of Mountain Home; six grandchildren, Aiden Stanek, Zoie Stanek, Mason Stanek, Breanna Hatch, Brook Ford and Peyton Ford; his brother Michael Stanek of El Cajon, California; his sister, Maryanne Stanek Booth of Mountain Home; his mother-in-law, Rae Johnston of Littleton, Maine, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his mother, Mary Stanek, and his sister, Karen Stanek Kirchhofer.

A celebration of life will be held at 2PM, on January 11, 2020 at the Mountain Home Elks Lodge. Gifts may be made in Robert’s memory to St Jude Children’s Hospital. Cremation was under the care of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.