Stan Creek

Stan Creek, 83, of Dearborn, Missouri died on January 18, 2008 at his home, Slash Valley Farm.

The only child of Everett G. Creek and Dorothy Dean Means Creek, Stan was born on March 15, 1924 in Neodesha, Kansas. He was raised in St. Joseph and Kansas City, with summers at the home and farm of his grandparents in Dearborn. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Journalism from Kansas State University in 1952 and married his classmate and the school newspaper’s editor, Betty Louise Omer Creek, in 1953. They both worked on the St. Joseph Gazette for a short time before moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Stan started a career in advertising. Accounts with Swift Feed, Surge Milkers, American Breeder Service and Allis Chalmers led to more opportunities and a move to Chicago in 1964, with children David Jefferson, Robert James and Sharyn Lynn. In Chicago, Stan was an account executive managing several accounts, including Mobil agricultural products. He was involved in the community as president of the Chicago Farmers Club, a trustee at his church, and a leader in the local Boy Scout troop. He enjoyed photography, camping, fishing, canoeing and being outdoors, especially in the country of his childhood, Slash Valley Farm. Stan retired after a severe stroke in 1973, and relocated to his beloved farm in Dearborn in 1978, moving into the century-old homestead of his great grandparents. In retirement Stan enjoyed his kids and their families, traveled the world with Betty, participated as an ambassador to China in the People-to-People program in 1981, and managed the farm property. He and Betty received the Outstanding Conservation Landowner Award in 2006.

Stan is survived by his wife of 54 years, three children, seven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 21 at the United Methodist Church of Dearborn.

A private family inurnment will be held at Davis Chapel Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Howard and Joyce Wood Ozarks Conservation Buyer Fund of The Nature Conservancy, 2800 South Brentwood Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63211. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Dearborn, MO.

Arrangements by Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower