Stanley John Sternik

Stanley John Sternik, 98, of Concordia at Cabot died Dec. 15, 2020, after a long battle with heart disease.

Stanley was born May 7, 1922, in Newark, N.J., to Stanislaw and Marja Mazurkiewicz Sternik.

He was raised in New Jersey and began college at Villanova University as an engineering major.

Following Dec. 7, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Pacific Theater until the end of World War II. He accompanied Gen. Douglas MacArthur throughout the South Pacific and Japan, and remained there to complete the process of Japanese surrender.

After his honorable discharge from the service, he attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont., and received his degree from Thomas Edison College in New Jersey. Following completion of his education, he worked at Edison Laboratories and Bell Laboratories in New Jersey.

Stan continued his career at the Federal Aviation Administration, working at NAFEC, the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center, performing testing on aircraft designs and safety. Following his retirement, he relocated to Butler in 1991 to be closer to his family. He moved to Concordia last year.

Stan was an avid automobile enthusiast, restoring and maintaining cars for many years, including a vintage Jaguar roadster. He was a member of the Old Stone House Antique Automobile Club and worked to restore its 1909 Huselton and 1922 Standard Eight automobile (his birth year!). He enjoyed driving the Standard in many parades throughout Butler. He was also a skilled pistol marksman, competing in target shooting competitions on a local and regional level for many years.

Stan was an expert machinist, working tirelessly on numerous projects in his extensive workshop, completing scale steam engine models and fixing everything imaginable. His expertise in woodworking was evident through his many complex constructions, but perhaps his finest was the design and fabrication of several beautiful Nativity crèches to showcase Christmas manger scenes for his family.

He was a dedicated watch and clock collector and amateur repairer. His hallmark accomplishment was the finishing and assembly of an heirloom grandfather clock, complete with wooden cabinetry, chimes and the mechanisms.

He greatly enjoyed the time he spent and the friendships he developed through membership in the Butler Kiwanis. Stan was an epicurean connoisseur and truly enjoyed fine cuisine, exploring new restaurants, a good beer in a properly chilled glass and his favorite: a good steak, cooked right.

Stan was very proud of his Polish heritage, maintaining his Polish language skills, enjoying traditional foods and continuing many Polish traditions, which were passed on to his family. He perhaps considered his greatest accomplishment the times he spent as the “Best Uncle Ever” to his loving family, sharing with them his many talents and skills.

Stan was also a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Butler Sportsmen Club and the American Legion.

Stan was a parishioner of St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church in Butler until his move to Concordia, when he joined St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cabot.

Stan is survived by his sister, Eugenia (Jean) Schweikart of Cabot (formerly of Butler); his niece, Dr. Kathy Schweikart (Dr. Charles Spingola) of Butler; and his three grandnieces, Maggie Spingola (Wellie Fox) of Zelienople, Dr. Liz Spingola of Alexandria, Va., and Kathryn Spingola of Chicago.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the caring and compassionate caregivers of Concordia at Cabot. Their kindness is greatly appreciated.

STERNIK — A private funeral Mass for Stanley John Sternik, who died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, will be held for the family.Interment will follow in New Jersey.Arrangements are under the direction of Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Butler.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to National Glaucoma Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1962, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1962, or St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 797, Ashland, MT 59003-9900Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.