Stanley Marhefke

Stanley Marhefke, 87, of Oshkosh, passed away peacefully at his home on August 15, 2025, following a short battle with cancer. His family was gratefully able to exchange "I love yous" and prayers with him.

He was born May 14, 1938, at home in Oshkosh to the late Stanley and Gerturde (Gronowski) Marhefke, the youngest of 11 children. He attended St Josaphat School, Merrill Junior High, and Oshkosh High School. He enlisted in the US Navy in May 1956. He proudly and honorably served on the USS Bushnell, stationed at Key West, Fla., and operated throughout the Caribbean. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class.

On December 15, 1956, Stan married Mary Staudenraus at St Mary's Catholic Church of Oshkosh. Together they raised five children, have seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

After his Naval service, they returned to Oshkosh, where Stan began a 41-year career as a carpenter. He first apprenticed with A.W. Jeske and attended classes at Fox Valley Technical School. In the late 1960s, he joined Giuliani Construction and helped build Park Plaza Mall. He then joined CR Meyer Construction, where he worked for over 30 years, becoming a superintendent and retiring in 2001. He was a Lifetime Member of the Wisconsin Carpenters Union, with over 50 years of membership.

His carpenter career began with building the former Shoreview Lanes bowling alley and concluded with being a supervisor for the new Jefferson Elementary School in Oshkosh. In between, he did new construction and renovation work for industrial and commercial projects, including building the Oshkosh Main Street bridge, hospitals, schools, banks, churches, paper mills, manufacturing plants, historical buildings, and homes, including Paine's. His true talent was being a finish carpenter. He was extremely proud to have built the family's two homes.

Stan followed his father and brother, Ralph, into the carpenter trade. He was a natural at engineering and there did not seem to be any piece of equipment or tool he could not fix or adapt for specialized use. This was a hallmark of his strong independence.

Early hobbies included silversmithing, making southwest style jewelry, being a ham radio operator, bow hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. After retiring, he remained active, building a cabin in Tripoli, Wis., hunting, restoring tractors, growing raspberries, doing various building projects, reading mysteries, and woodworking. He was a skilled carver and truly enjoyed making gifts for family and friends, including wood toys for his grand and great-grandchildren. He loved his family and greatly enjoyed spending holidays and time with them.

Preceding him in death were his parents; in-laws Joseph and Marge Staudenraus; brother-in-laws, Philip Staudenraus and David Staudenraus; and nine siblings, Raymond (Violet), Regina (Rich) Knoblock, Clifford, Ralph (Marie & Pearl), Helen (Harold) Bahr, Bernard (Tess), Gertrude (Ted) Jensen, Mary Ann (Harold) Huebner, and Joan (Daryl) Wendt.

He is survived by his sister Elenore Francis; his wife of 68 years Mary; his five children, Cherie (John) Giesfeldt, Michael(Carrie), Lynne (Gary) Fenrich, Doug (Tracy), and Katherine. He was "Papa" to seven grandchildren, Hayley (Max), Josh (Morgan), Lauren (Matt), Emma, Matthew, Nathan, and Anna; and four great-grandchildren, Will, Harrison, Alaina, and Connell.

Services for Stan will be held on Friday, August 22, at 3:00 pm, with visitation from 1:30-3:00, at Konard-Behlman Funeral Home, westside location, Oshkosh. Interment service will be held on Monday, August 25, at 1:00 pm at Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh. Donations can be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society.