Stanton D. Poier, 87

Stanton Poier, 87, died peacefully on Nov. 20, 2017.

Stan was born in Rudyard to Andrew and Henrietta Poier on April 25, 1930. He joined brother Leonard, and sisters Marian and Babe. At the age of 8 years Stan and his family moved from Rudyard to Kalispell where he grew up and made his life. As a boy Stan embraced all the Flathead Valley had to offer. He ice skated at Woodland Park, he split wood for his neighbors, and he played sports for the Kalispell schools. His parents bought a cabin on Angel Point on Flathead Lake. He loved to fish the lake; he caught many nice bull trout, cutthroat and salmon. Friends introduced Stan to another great passion, hunting, which continued throughout his life.

The Poier family was very musical and Stan learned to play the coronet. He could listen to a song and play by ear. As a teenager he played for dances along the Hi-Line with sister Babe and her husband Joe. In those teen years Stan worked summers east of the mountains on various ranches and farms. Stan graduated Flathead County High in 1948, ending his formal education. He played varsity football for the Braves and also played in the band.

On Sept. 6, 1952, Stan married the love of his life, Ellen Gwen Rognlie, in a little Lutheran church in Somers. They were married 57 years and raised three sons, Stanton L. Poier, Don Poier and Howard W. Poier. As an adult Stan worked for several employers, including Kalispell Lumber, cut meat for Safeway Foods, worked to build Hungry Horse Dam and finally worked for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company for 36 years, retiring at the age of 62. Stan was a member of the fraternal organization Masonic Lodge No. 42 and the Eagles in Kalispell. Stan served in the National Guard and was honorably discharged.

Family always was first with Stan and Ellen. There were countless get together for birthdays, holidays or just Sunday afternoons that included grandparents, cousins and friends, lots of good food and laughter. Summers were filled with weekend camping trips to area lakes or rivers, with evening stories around the campfire about the big buck or bass that got away. Stan loved to hunt; he had many adventures and shot many nice game animals which the family enjoyed eating. In the ‘80s Stan and Ellen bought a lot on Ashley Lake and built a small cabin there. The lake was his favorite spot. He loved to fish there and made many close friends with neighbors in that area. Stan and Ellen had many close friends and there were many pinochle parties or dancing at the Eagles.

Stan was always steady in life’s ups and downs. He never ran from his responsibilities to his family or his friends. In life he lost two sons before he died and watched his wife disappear from Alzheimer’s. Through it all and to his last days he was quick to smile or laugh, and made friends with everyone he came in contact with. He will be missed by his family and friends.

“We know in heaven there is a small fishing boat with Stan in it with that old fishing hat on and Ellen is there sitting in the front and life is good.”

Stan is survived by son, Don and Deb Poier of Kalispell; grandchildren Sami Poier of Kalispell, and Casey Poier and Megan Stokes of Seattle; and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a visitation for Stan from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, with services to be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Church of the Nazarene, 1295 Whitefish Stage Kalispell.

Please visit www.jgfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for the family. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.