Greg Stanke
September 10, 1970 ~ September 11, 2018
Gregory August Stanke, loving husband, treasured father and Papa, son, brother and friend, passed away September 11, 2018 in West Fargo, North Dakota.
He was born September 10th, 1970 in New Prague, Minnesota to Duane and Betty (Novotny) Stanke. He grew up in New Prague, Minnesota with his siblings Kari (Shabir) Awan, Robert (Elena) Stanke, Scott (Deb) Stanke.
Greg played football throughout High School until graduating in 1989. He went on to play in college and graduated in 1994 from Minnesota State University Moorhead, with his Bachelors degree in Exercise Science.
Greg met Shannan (Pfeilschiefter) in college. They were married November 26, 1993 in New Prague, Minnesota. They were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Sam (Dustin) Bishop, Camryn Stanke, and Grace Stanke. Greg encouraged his daughters to chase their wildest dreams, and he loved them more than life itself. In 2017 he received the grand title of “Papa” with the birth of Charlie Ruth Bishop (daughter of Dustin and Sam). She had the “Big man” wrapped around her little finger the moment she arrived.
Greg was known for working hard and playing harder! As a teenager, he worked at McDonalds and proudly bought a 1981 Trans Am. In college, he was a baggage handler at Frontier Airlines and a piano technician and mover at Lindemann Piano, though he never played a note. Greg's work ethic and education made him into a businessman in 1998 when he launched A to Z Moving, inc. He enjoyed watching it grow and made many friendly acquaintances of his repeat customers and employees.
Greg was not one to be idle, he was active in Heartland Community Church, Wild Rice Peace Makers, Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, Fort Ransom Arena Association and always the official horse handler/coach/one-man cheering squad to his daughters’ horse events.
Greg loved his horse EZ and his dog Tuff. He enjoyed raising hunting dogs, and in the fall you would find him and Tuff in western ND hunting pheasants with friends. He enjoyed being involved in Men’s Ministry, and organizing shooting events for the group. Greg and EZ competed in Cowboy Mounted Shooting the past few years. His enthusiasm and love for the sport were contagious, and he began putting on clinics for beginners and doing demonstrations. He was always a capable gate man at barrel races and rodeos and was always ready to lend a hand to not only his daughters but other competitors. He was the ultimate “Rodeo Queen Dad” doing whatever was needed to make his daughters smile.
Greg was larger than life and everyone's rock: kind, willing to lend a hand, generous and adventurous. He had a fun sense of humor and he shared his enthusiasm, and God’s love with everyone around him. He was known as the “Big Man” with cutting edge hair, and style all his own. He was notoriously known for wearing Zubaz pants before, during and after it was cool, and doing the “Running Man” Dance at weddings.
Greg will be painfully missed by his wife, daughters, family, friends, horses and dogs.
Funeral services will be held at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds Schollander Pavilion in West Fargo, ND at 2pm, Tuesday, September 18, 2018. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Greg Stanke Memorial fund at Gate City Bank.
Sending prayers and condolences to Shannan, Sam, Cam and Gracie. Also to Uncle Duane, Aunt Betty and sister and brothers. I am so sorry to hear this news of Greg. He will be greatly missed by many. R.I.P Cousin. I know you are flying high and riding those horses in the sky. God Bless you all! Lots of Love and hugs!🙏🏼❤️
Greg and the Stanke family were our first friends and neighbors when we moved to North Dakota. Our hearts ache for the loss. Such a great guy!
Our prayers and wishes for peace go out to all.
Our hearts hurt for all of you that loved Greg . We love you and will be praying for you. Greg was someone we never forgot and was happy to know. A pleasure to connect with him again a year ago when we moved. Great people he had working for him. Shannon, thinking of you in the days ahead with prayers that God will never leave you nor forsake you and you will know He is neat❤️
So sorry to read about the passing of Greg. My thoughts & prayers are with you Shannon & family during this tough time. Loved visiting with you guys when we were neighbors years ago.
Greg was a great boss and great friend. His presence brought smiles and laughter to all around him. I don’t believe I have ever met a more positive and joyful person. It is rare in life that you can meet and know someone and not have anything bad to say about them. Greg was one of a kind, a man that embodied and showed God’s love to everyone. His passing causes sadness, but his life and memory will always bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. I will see you in Heaven when the Lord calls me home.
So very sorry to hear about Greg. You all are in our thoughts & prayers. He always had a smile & hello. He will be greatly missed.
Andy, Julie, Brett & Brooke Levos
Very few things in life can cause such heartache, and sadness. Greg will be sorely missed. May the love and grace of a merciful Father in heaven comfort the hearts of the family and all of us who grieve for Greg. Rest, my friend.
I will always remember Greg as the horse man as he and Shannon so kindly provided me with a horse to use at the Fargo PRCA rodeo in 2015. He was so positive and fun to be around.
I met Greg through the mounted shooting family. When Greg and EZ went into the arena I would rush to the fence to watch. They both put every muscle into their run which made them exciting to watch. Outside the arena Greg had time to visit with you no matter what he had going on. He was a shaker and a mover. Greg was always working to help people and activities grow. Rest in peace Greg. I will miss you as many will. Prayers for Greg’s family at this sad time.
Shannon, Sam & Family- My deepest condolenses on the loss of Greg. Prayers to mend your broken hearts💔🙏
To a ‘T’! Greg was an amazing man. Always kind, willing to help, and smiling (except when he thought I wouldn’t give Charlie back to him). I’ve seen the sparkle in his eyes when he spoke about his loves, family and mounted shooting. We discussed bringing mounted shooting to the area, and he had so much enthusiasm, he really wanted to help me with this event. I regret not moving faster to make it happen.
Shannan, Sam, Dustin, camryn, Grace, Charlie, Betty, and all of the family, you are in my prayers, and so much on my mind. Greg will, for sure, be missed dearly always! 🙁
You were a great big brother, husband, father, and grandfather. We will miss you very much. Say hi to our relatives for me.
If you happen to run into Prince, tell him hi from me too.
I will always think of you every time I listen to any Prince song.
Prayers to all the families n children. Condolences
So sorry for your loss! We always looked forward to seeing the Stanke family showing up to our annual horse shows. Our deepest sympathy and our prayers are with the family! James River Riders, LaMoure, ND
Sonya Hoffmann
Greg, thank you for my first college job. I’ll never forget this monster of a piano we had to lift up on these little four wheel dollies. You had it strapped, one for you and one for me. You said ready? Lift! Well your side lifted up just fine, mine not so much. “I told you to lift!” “I AM LIFTING” I yelled back. You unstrapped your side and came over and picked my end up and told me to push the dolly under. That look you gave me, it wasn’t disappointment or a shameful one. It was more like, “you’ll get it, just keep trying.”
I remember having to tell you about me moving back to North Dakota because of the two funerals I had to attend that April of 07’. I had a no call no show, you were pissed and I’m sorry I should of let you know but my world was falling apart. I drove to the shop and told you what happened with tears in my eyes and you didn’t say a thing. Instead you came over and gripped me in a hug that meant more than a thousand words. You gave me my A to Z check and I drove away from the shop for the last time.
You’re a great man, and I’ll always remember you that way. I hope I can comfort someone the way you comforted me that day. Thank you Greg, I’ll see you again.
i am sorry for you loss.
You made such an impact in our lives that i never got a chance to tell you. The last time i saw you at church you were sitting w the girls. You will be missed more than you know. Bill rode with you when you & jeff went pheasant hunting & he had the best time. Thank you Greg. May you have peace & joy eternally in jesus arms. Shannon & family you are so loved you have so many arms & prayers around you. We love you & our hearts go out to you always but especially at this time. God will bring you through this. Love you. Im in Washington until mid next week but i will see you when i get back. Love you
My thoughts and prayers are with to his family friends and church family. He will be greatly missed
We are sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all through this tough time. God bless you all.
So sorry to hear this sad news. Some of my greatest childhood memories include your family. My love and prayers to all of you.
Greg,
God bless you, for you, your family, and all those you have been blessed in knowing you are praying for your safe deliverance! You will be greatly missed, and we are all truely honored to have known you, and your beautiful family!
My family’s prayers go out to your family, near, close, far, and distant! God bless, God speed, prayers, all our love!
So sorry Betty & Dwyane and his family. We were neighbors for many year. And watched u grow to young man. Our son Tom spent many ours together playing within and sister and brothers.Plus our girls Tammy & Terri too. Great neighbors to us. Can’t believe he’s gone, so young. Rip Greg.
My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. I went to high school with Greg but we lost track of each other after.
I was heart broken when I heard the sad news.
So sorry to hear of Greg’s passing…Keep his love and memories close in your heart…He was a great guy and will be missed by all who knew him…Hugs and Prayers to all of you…
We send our sincere sympathy So sorry. God bless your family
Gene & Alpha Lang
Rest in peace old friend.
Stanke family, we are so sorry for your loss and wish we where their to shower you all with hugs and kisses. I ask that the lord gives you peace and healing in this time of grief . We love you all so much and can’t wait to see you.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Greg was a good friend to anyone. I remember him from High School. Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers. We have an Angel watching over us. We miss you Greg.