Stanley Joseph Priebe

Stanley Joseph Priebe, age 93, died on Monday, March 31, 2008 of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was born on May 23, 1914 in Milwaukee, WI to William Priebe, Sr. and Rose (Jaster) Priebe. His family moved to Muskegon in 1915. He attended Muskegon High School but left early to work as a playground instructor, night watchman for Amazon Knitting and laborer for Bennett Pumps. On April 19, 1941 he married Stella J. Cwynar. Two months later he was inducted into the US Army where he rapidly rose to the rank of 1st Sergeant. During WWII he served with the 3414th Ordnance Co. and was stationed on the island of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. Years later in a personal letter and chronology of war events, a fellow soldier and company historian wrote, "I never saw you upset, vindictive, or at a loss. You did your job with competence and skill. . . He took us through to the end of the war with grace and style and never raised his voice." After the war ended, Stan was employed by the US Post Office in Muskegon. He worked primarily as a letter carrier for 31 years in the area of W. Laketon Ave., Henry St., Barclay St. and Southern Ave. until his retirement in 1976. Following a series of night classes, he received his diploma from MHS in 1961. During his postal career, he continued to serve in the local US Army Reserve as a 1st Sergeant until 1974. At a farewell dinner he was recognized by the 486th EGNR CO (LE) of Muskegon for over 30 years of dedicated and outstanding service to the US Army and Army Reserve. Stan had a strong faith and had been a parishioner of St. Thomas Catholic Church for over 50 years. He volunteered as an usher and worked at numerous church functions for many of those years. He enjoyed club baseball, golf, Sunday afternoons on Lake Michigan beaches, long walks, excursions with the Orchard View Travelers, yard work, and being present for the activities and events of his children and grandchildren. Stan was a kind, loving, hard-working, unassuming man who influenced others by humble example. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and the community. He is survived by his wife, Stella; 2 sons, W. Michael (Jo-Anne) Priebe, M.D. of Tacoma, WA and Joseph S. (Beth Kirschner) Priebe of Ann Arbor, MI; daughter, Sally J. (Ray) Gillo of Ypsilanti, MI; 7 grandchildren; brother, William (Florence) Priebe of Muskegon, and sister, Delores Priebe of Muskegon. He was preceded in death by 5 brothers, John, Julius, Frank, Thomas, and Bernard Priebe, and 2 sisters, Blanche DeHorn and Irene Wilks. A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be at 11AM Saturday at St. Thomas Catholic Church (3252 E. Apple Ave.) with Rev. Fr. Phil Sliwinski presiding. VISITATION will be from 6PM - 8PM Friday at The Sytsema Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 737 Apple Ave. 231-726-5210 MEMORIALS in Stan's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.