Stanley Jack Dillmann

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, October 25, 2022, at the Meldrum Funeral
Home Chapel at 52 N Macdonald, Mesa, Arizona, with burial at the Gilbert Memorial
Park in Gilbert, Arizona.

Stanley came into this world on December 7, 1951, to his dearest mother, Donna Mae
(Cross), and father, Jack Dillmann of Solen. He was raised on the family farm near
Solen, where he developed a love for fixing things. He attended school in the area and
earned his high school diploma in Oceanside, CA.

In August 1969, he decided he had had enough of living at home and enlisted with the
US Marine Corps to serve his country. Stanley’s service to his country took him to
California, North Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan. Upon his honorable discharge in
September 1971, he returned to North Dakota, started his automotive career, and
worked for AVCO Finance in Jamestown. He owned and operated the Car Clinic and Ace
Auto and Truck Repair in Williston for many years before retiring to Bismarck.

He married Marcella Chase in October 1973. To this relationship were two sons.
Christopher and SJ. Stanley and Marcella amicably ended their marriage and remained
friends until his passing.

Stanley first met Kay Bernice Grenz in November 1974. A year later, they had their first
date. As Stanley told the story, she was stolen from him, and he found her again on
February 14, 2008. Determined not to lose her a second time, he cleverly involved
Marcella to be his lookout while he shopped for a ring to propose to her. Quietly waiting
for him to pop the question, Marcella became impatient and asked what he was waiting
for this time. He told her he needed to do it right to get the right answer. Stanley did it
right, and he married the love of his life on December 30, 2011.

Stanley’s marriage to Kay Bernice fulfilled his wish for another opportunity to be a dad.
He became a gaga to Kay Bernice’s son Gary who has disabilities. Stanley loved being
gaga to Gary, and he would take him everywhere. Stanley and Gary were inseparable;
he taught him many things. The two of them could turn a trip to the grocery store into
a 3-hour adventure and return home with nothing needed. Stanley, the lifelong
mechanic he was, decided to set Gary up with his toolbox and workstation so they
could work on things together. He even found a little motor that he could show Gary
how to take apart. He took Gary’s life to a new level. Stanley encouraged him to
express himself, seek out his dreams and live life to the fullest daily. He loved Gary
deeply, always looking for Gary’s well-being and protecting him. Gary is at a loss,
missing his beloved gaga.

Stanley had another dream, and that was to have a daughter. His marriage to Kay
Bernice came with a daughter too. Although he wasn’t able to show and be the gaga he
was to Gary, to daughter, Sherrie his love for both of these two children was real and in
his mind he accepted these children as his and called them his son and his daughter
until his passing.

He leaves behind the love of his life, Kay Bernice, and son Gary in Arizona. His son
Christopher and his wife Cathy, in North Dakota. A son SJ in Colorado. A daughter
Sherrie in Oregon. Grandchildren, Courtney, Gabriel and Gavin, Mandan, and Alice of
Oregon. His great-grandchildren, Aurora, Alec, and Raven of Mandan.

He is survived by his favorite sister, Lori, of Michigan. Other siblings include Joyce
Schmidt-Boehm in Mandan, Gerald in Colorado, Bill in Mandan, Candace in Texas,
James in Colorado, and his mother-in-law, Annie Grenz of Arizona. Nieces, Nephews,
and his special friend, Clea Fairaizl.

He was preceded in death by his sister Virginia, his mother, Donna and Stepfather Dale
Gullickson, Father Jack Dillmann, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Our Stanley was the best mechanic of his time. He had enormous patience for repairing
things, his son Gary, and life. He loved woodworking and was incredibly proud of the
“Sugar Shack” he built a few years ago where he could stash the candy and sodas from
his wife. He was an excellent grill master and could grill a steak that never needed a
condiment. In the ’70s, he made the best Tiger Meat in town. When he reconnected
with Kay, they reminisced through memories when the topic of his famous Tiger meat
came up. He told her he couldn’t remember his recipe anymore; it had been too long
since he made it. She pulled her recipe box and took out his 33-year-old Tiger Meat
recipe. The joyous look on his face said it all, and the two wasted no time making up a
batch; of course, Stanley introduced Gary to this well remembered appetizer.

We go now, having to learn to live in the sunshine of his life rather than the darkness of
his death. Stanley, we will love and miss you forever, sweetheart.