Stanley G. Tinkham

Stanley G. Tinkham (86) of Meriden, Iowa went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 20, 2023.  Stanley Gale was born to Guy and Sylvia (Jordan) Tinkham on October 5, 1936 in Fairbury, Nebraska.  He lived on a farm near Powell before his family moved to Oshkosh, Nebraska to ranch.  Stan developed a good work ethic on the ranch while learning how to manage Hereford cattle and horses. 

After graduating from Garden County High School, Stan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and the United Methodist Church. Stanley served in the Nebraska National Guard and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.  He was honorably discharged in 1967 from the Army.  

On June 10, 1967 Stan married Mary L. Sarensen in Murphysboro, Illinois.  The couple met on a blind date while they were both working in St. Louis.   Together Stan and Mary raised their family in Manning, Iowa before moving to Meriden in 1994.  

Stanley began his ag career at Purina with a focus on animal nutrition.  He then worked as a seed salesman and District Sales Manager for several seed companies including Cargill, Diamond Brand Seed, Midwest Seed Genetics and others.  Prior to full retirement, Stan worked with North Central Crop Insurance as an adjuster.  

Throughout Stanley’s lifetime, his passion was the outdoors.  Growing up on a ranch afforded him many opportunities to learn a love for fishing, hunting, boating, and an appreciation for nature.  Stan enjoyed gardening, traveling to South Dakota, having coffee with his buddies, and watching a good Nebraska Cornhusker football game.  Stan had a sweet tooth and could not pass up a piece of pie, especially apricot raisin.  He also loved sharing A&W root beer floats, convertible rides and fish fries with his family. 

Stanley is survived by his wife Mary; children Cheryl (Jeff) Jensen, Paula (Cory) Halbur, Thomas Tinkham, Sandra (Andrew) Fuller; grandchildren Morgan Halbur, Andrea (Josh) Gordon, Elisa Jensen, Grant Halbur, Jordan Jensen, and Jack Fuller; a sister Joyce Helmink; in-laws Gloria Tinkham  and Perry (Dana) Sarensen. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Roger Tinkham.