Long time Mason City, Iowa resident Stanley A. Kuhl, 93, died peacefully Saturday, May 5, 2012, while in the comforting arms of his family.

Stanley was born in Lansford, N.D. on June 23, 1918, to parents Clara (Hanson) and George Kuhl. Stanley’s father died at age 28 on Dec. 24, 1918, during a flu pandemic when Stanley was only six months old. Stanley’s mother moved the family back to Grand Meadow, Minn., where her family resided in town and on surrounding farms. She was assisted by family members, most notably Mabel and Elvin Hanson, with raising Stanley and his siblings. In a sense, Stanley was raised by “the village of Hanson” during the Great Depression. He gained his great love of horses while working on family farms during his childhood and young adult years.

After graduating from Grand Meadow High School in 1936, Stanley attended Mankato State Teacher’s College. He was a football quarterback known for his running skill. While at college, Stanley met his future wife, Marian Roos, who lived with her family in Mankato, Minn. When World War II began, Stanley joined the U.S. Army, ultimately earning the rank of captain. Since Stanley had prior civilian aviation experience, the Army Air Corp assigned him to train bomber pilots and bombardiers at Texas military bases. Before going to Texas, Stanley and Marian married on Jan. 18, 1942 in Richfield, Minn.

After the war, Stanley’s family returned to Mankato where he finished college. They moved to Mason City in 1947 to work in the Mason City Schools. Stanley would go on to receive his Master’s degree in school administration from Mankato State. He taught industrial arts, coached athletic teams, and attained leadership as principal of Roosevelt Junior High. He was the Roosevelt Principal for 18 years until his retirement in 1984. Stanley greatly enjoyed the students, teachers, and administrators in the Mason City School System. He always looked forward to the school day.

Stanley is survived by sister-in-law Berniece (Taylor) Kuhl; children Steven (Sandra) of Blaine, Minn., Larry (Mardiann) of Mason City, Lynne Smith (Robin) of Mill Valley, Calif., and Scott (Mary Jo Peterson) of Mason City; four nieces; two nephews; nine grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by beloved wife Marian Margaret Ann Roos; his parents; brother Harold Kuhl (Cannon Falls, Minn.); sister Alice Colman (Renton, Wash.); aunt Mabel (Skaran) Hanson and uncle Elvin Hanson (both of Grand Meadow, Minn.); and four nephews.

Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 10, 2012, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City with Rev. Keith Scott, Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. There will be no visitation. Inurnment will take place in the Bear Creek Lutheran Cemetery, rural Grand Meadow. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or North Iowa Humane Society. Arrangements are being made by Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.