Stanley Philip Thor, 91, of Hazel Green, WI passed away in the comfort of his own home on Monday, December 4, 2023.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 11th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kieler, WI. Burial with military honors accorded will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery in Kieler, WI. Family & friends may call on Sunday, December 10th from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center in Kieler, WI; also on Monday, December 11th from 9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. at the parish center. The Haudenshield Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City, WI is serving the family.

Stan was born Oscar Oliver Stanley Philip Thor on July 24, 1932, the son of August and Hilda (Schroeder) Thor, on the farm in Jamestown, Grant County, Wisconsin. Stan proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955. He was a member of the Army Signal Corps' first 100-inch telephoto camera crew, which gave them the name "Eyes of the Army" and assigned them "Top Secret" work. One assignment took them to the 107th story of the Empire State Building, two stories above the Observation Deck. He took part in "Exercise FLASH BURN" and trained in atomic weapons and atomic bomb testing.

Following active service, Stan was in the Reserves until his Honorable Discharge in March of 1961 with the rank of Corporal. For his service and skill, he was recognized with the National Defense Service Medal, Efficiency Honor Fidelity Campaign and Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with Carbine Bar. In April of this year, he received the Atomic Veterans Service Medal, for his part in the development of atomic and nuclear weapons program. He was excited to be selected for a Quad Cities Honor Flight on October 27, 2015.

His service with the 100-inch camera crew was recognized in three magazines—Amateur Photographer, Photographic World, and The Amateur Photographer. He was on the front cover of the first of the three magazines, purposely timed for publication in July 2022 as a gift to Stan for his 90th birthday.

When he got out of service, Stan bought a '55 Mercury and took it to a dance at Brandt's Hall where he met Iola Frances Kunkel. She fell in love with that '55 Mercury and Stan; Dad would laugh and say, "It was in that order." They were married in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on May 26, 1956 and held hands for 56 years until the morning of May 15, 2013, when the love of his life passed on. He deeply missed her every day since.

Stan started in the millwork at Farley and Loetscher. He later moved to the Electrical Department, and this was the spark that got him started in that field. He became a licensed electrician and worked for United Electric for 10 years, Moldt Electric for 25 years, and A&G Electric for 5 years until his retirement in 1996.

Stan was an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Hazel Green Council 7370; a 60-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 704, Dubuque, Iowa; a Fourth Degree Honor Guard Member, Assembly #1202; an active member of The American Legion, Post #0526; and Past President of the Parish Council for Immaculate Conception Parish. He also served on the Parish Cemetery Committee and was a member of the I.C. Holy Name Society.

Stan's faith was an integral part of his life. As a life-long member of Immaculate Conception, he gladly donated many years of volunteer service hours and materials to the church and school. Never one to sit down, Stan had a home business, Thor Electric, from which he could repair practically anything, as all who knew him will attest. With his love of photography, we have many memories saved in pictures. We are thankful for his persistence in saying "Just one more." as we look through them now. With his love of flying model airplanes, Stan became a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics Nature Coast RC Flying Club in Florida, where he and Iola had a winter home. He also enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, coin collecting, and antique cars.

Stan is survived by five children: Randy (Kathie) Thor, Cuba City, Debbie (Andy) Brannon, La Crosse, Audrey (Pat) Kress, Bettendorf, Lois (Greg) Herbst, Mineral Point, and Pam (Charles) Moore, Mount Horeb; 14 grandchildren: Alison (Bobby) Kagan, Megan (Tom) Schiffer, Elizabeth, Maria, Matthew and Patrick Brannon, Tyler (Stacey) Kress, Trenton and Austin Kress, Emily (Matt) Miller, Ashley Herbst, Hannah (Aiden) Thumser, and Madison and Olivia Moore; four great-grandchildren: Katelynn and Connor Kagan, Evelyn Kress, and Leo Schiffer; and many caring nieces and nephews.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents, August and Hilda (Schroeder) Thor; four siblings and their spouses: Walter (Marion) Thor, Ivyl (Andrew) Brand, Quentin (Betty) Thor, and Annabel (Kenneth) Wilberding; Iola's siblings and their spouses: Clair (Ruth) Kunkel, Elmer (Sally) Kunkel, Rita (Clem) Neuses, Duane (Malinda) Kunkel, Mary (Charlie) Wiederholt, and John (Marna) Kunkel; nieces Linda Pape, Shirley (and her husband, Marv) Cocayne, Pat Jerrett, Mary Ann Troy, and a close nephew, Gerry Neuses.

In lieu of plants and flowers a Stanley Philip Thor Memorial Fund has been established.

Memorials may also be mailed to:

Haudenshield Funeral Home
c/o: Stan Thor Family
P.O. BOX 825
Cuba City, WI 53807