Cecil Santa Stoner

Cecil Santa Stoner, 92, of Grand Island, passed to eternal peace on Friday, November 11, 2016 at CHI St. Francis Health in Grand Island, NE.



Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. on Friday, November 18, 2016 at St. Marys Cathedral in Grand Island. Father Tim Stoner and Father Jim Golka will be officiating. Burial will be at the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.



Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M. on Thursday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. A Rosary will follow at 7:00 P.M. Memorials are suggested to the family (in lieu of flowers) to be designated at a later date.



Cecil was born on December 17, 1923 on a farm in Aurora, Kansas to Clifton and Elsie (Bates) Stoner. His paternal grandparents were Harrison and Hannah Bates and his maternal grandparents were Leighton and Lilly Stoner. He grew up in Aurora and Concordia, Kansas and attended a country school, New Hope District 75 for 8 years. He graduated from Concordia High School in 1942. Cecil helped his father farm outside of Concordia. During WWII, he chose to join the U.S. Navy on February 17, 1944 and was honorably discharged on April 10, 1946. He was active in the Pacific Theatre, the Philippine Liberation, Subic Bay, Okinawa, and the Linguayen Gulf Operations. He was united in marriage to Betty J. Grubbs on May 27, 1953 in Omaha, NE. The couple lived in Fremont, NE where he was employed by Mead Ordinance Plant. The couple moved to Grand Island and Cecil was employed by Silas Mason Ordinance Plant, Kelly Well, Redman Industries, Sperry New Holland, and Cedar Hollow School.



Cecil was a member of St. Marys Cathedral. He enjoyed woodworking, reading, lawn work, and most enjoyable, clock repair. His greatest enjoyment in life were his children and grandchildren. He thoroughly enjoyed singing and quoting poetry to his family, grandchildren, and friends. He was known as the tinker of anything mechanical, appliances, clocks, installation, and repairs.



Survivors include his wife, Betty Stoner of Grand Island, NE; sons, Fr. Timothy Stoner of Alliance, NE, Jerry Stoner of Grand Island, NE, and Craig (Paula) Stoner of Kearney, NE; daughters, Trudy (Larry) Jeratowski of Casper, WY, Linda (Jeff) Damratowski of Dannebrog, NE, Marcia (Darrel) Stehlik of Crete NE, and Michelle (Tom) Harders of Crete, NE; 11 grandchildren, Justin, Lauren, Amanda, Jacey, Ashley, Camilla, Chelsea, Brady, Jared, Macy and Sydney; brother, Clarence Stoner of Grand Island, NE; sister, Louise Armstrong of Victorville, CA; brother and sister in-laws, LaVern (Jan) Grubbs and Diane Grubbs of Grand Island, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.



Cecil is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; daughter, Kristin Stoner; grandson, Jacob Harders.



Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com