Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Thomas R. Stinar Obit

Thomas R. Stinar, 85
A funeral service for Thomas R. Stinar of Jackson took place Aug. 31 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hunter Township with Pastor Bart Mueller officiating. Burial was at Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Minneota Township, with military rites by the Jackson American Legion and VFW Posts. Thomas Stinar passed away on Aug. 27 at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Luverne.

Casket bearers were Ryan Sparno, Erin Sparno, Thomas Stinar, Brian Stinar, Bridget Eastes and Alexandra Eastes. Music was provided by Betty Bettin, organist. The Osterberg Funeral Service of Jackson handled the arrangements.

Thomas Richard Stinar was born on Feb. 28, 1928 in Minneota Township, Jackson County, Minnesota to Joseph and Anna (Kmetz) Stinar. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hunter Township, Jackson County. Tom graduated from Lakefield High School in 1945 and then joined the Army Air Corp where he trained to become a Flight Engineer. After training, he spent eighteen months as part of the Berlin Airlift (code-named Operation Vittles) flying C54 cargo planes hauling food and supplies to Berlin because of the Russian blockade. In 1951, while waiting to start flight school for the commercial air lines, he was recalled into the Air Force for the Korean Conflict. On Aug. 23, 1953 he was united in marriage to Grace Livingston at the Round Lake Presbyterian Church. The couple moved back to Tom’s family farm in Minneota Township following their marriage. Tom was still a member of the Air Force on a part time basis until 1988. When he was 63 years old he retired from farming. In 1998, Tom and Grace moved into Jackson. The couple loved to travel together, taking many trips throughout the U.S. and internationally. For several years Tom, Grace, and friends reunited in Germany for the Berlin Airlift reunion. They also spent seventeen years as ‘snowbirds’ wintering in Texas.

Thomas was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Church. He had tremendous love and respect for the military life and was an active member of both the American Legion and VFW Posts in Jackson. He loved to tinker in his garage, enjoyed reading and was a great history buff. Tom had a great sense of humor and a major sweet tooth; especially for ice cream.

Thomas is survived by his wife of 60 years Grace Stinar of Jackson; his children Joseph (Carol) Stinar of St. Paul, Janet (Chris) Eastes of Huntington Beach, Calif., Mary (Rick) Sparno of Fountain Valley, Calif.; five grandchildren Thomas Stinar, Ryan Sparno, Erin Sparno, Alexandra Eastes, and Bridget Eastes. He is also survived by his sister Anita Meyer of Anaheim, Calif.

Thomas is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Robert Stinar, and a sister Kathryn Bosch.
Memorials preferred (In Memory of Thomas Stinar) to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1001 14th Street NW, Suite 800, Rochester, MN 55901.

Blessed be the memory of Thomas Richard Stinar.

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