Stanley Frank Cech
June 14, 1950 - March 21, 2025

It is with great sadness, the family of Stanley Cech announce his passing on March 21, 2025, at the Sundre Hospital, at the age of 74 years.

Stan was born in Eckville on June 14, 1950, to Katie and Cyrill Cech. Like a lot of farm boys, he did not like school except for track and field day, when he came home with a chest full of red first place ribbons. He missed so many days of school to stay home and help feed thirteen-and-a-half-thousand turkeys, there was no point in him going. He’s never liked a turkey since. Stan quit school when he was 14 to head out to logging camp. His job at the mill out west was to haul the trees to the mill with a stone boat behind a tractor. Once the mill was moved home, Stan’s job was to tail saw and feed the edger. This was the job he enjoyed the most at the mill.

Stanley worked very hard for his parents most of the time but in the winter he had a great neighbour and coach, Charlie Shippelt, who would pick him up to play hockey. His coach called him Stan Mikita. He had an unreal snapshot that broke the puck in half hitting the goal post. Stan was approached by hockey scouts to go on and play in the big time. His coach talked to his parents to let him go but they wouldn’t let him; there was just too much work to be done at home. Instead, Stan carried on his love for hockey coaching the neighbour kids at Evergreen.

In 1980, Stan purchased his first quarter of land at Stauffer along with a few head of cattle. This was the beginning of his own farming career. In 1982, his first son Christopher was born and in 1984, his second son Joey arrived. He loved his boys dearly and would pack them around in the tractor with him as soon as they were able to walk. Chris and Joe spent a lot of time falling asleep on him or a bed on the floor of the tractor while working in the fields all day. The boys learned to operate equipment at a very early age. One day Bev was driving down the road and saw this Cech pick-up coming towards her, with no driver. The kids couldn’t even see over the steering wheel on their way to meet their Dad in the field.

Stan enjoyed hunting and fishing big time! Stan, his boys and his hunting buddies would set up a tent out west for a week. Although, it seemed like they never came back with anything from out there. I guess it wasn’t just for the hunt.

In 2000, Stan married Bev Bertagnolli and built a new home to start their life together. Also in 2000, Stan got his big trophy white tail deer in the field east of the house, receiving the Buckmaster Award Certificate. Bev always told him 2000 was a good year for him. In 2002, Stan purchased his pride and joy, his International gravel truck and with that he enjoyed trucking for many years. Through the years, Stan and Bev travelled as much as they could get away from the farm. Taking Bev’s kids, Kerrie, Kelly and Rena to Reno, a houseboat trip on the Shuswap, Las Vegas, Mexico, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Rupert. Stan enjoyed deep sea fishing for salmon and halibut in Prince Rupert and again he got an award for catching a Teehee salmon.

Stan was a very kind-hearted and caring man who had a great love for animals, his cattle and especially his dog Buddy. If anyone needed help, he would drop what he was doing to go lend a hand. He was very social and liked to have a good time. Stan thought the world of his grandkids and would always say he “couldn’t be more proud.”
In 2020 things took a turn for the worst and Stan suffered a major stroke causing paralysis to his left side, placing him in a wheelchair. After six months in Red Deer Hospital he was able to come back home.

It was very hard on him not to be able to operate equipment or be out with the cattle. It didn’t affect Stan’s mind and speech, so he was still able to tell Bev and the boys what to do. He fought one heck of a fight for the last five years. Now, he will be able to rest in peace and he will be deeply missed.

Stan is survived by his loving wife Bev Cech; his two boys: Christopher Cech and Joey (Kim) Cech; five grandchildren: Jackson, Hunter, Ella, Kolby and Katie Cech; two step-children: Kerrie Prodaniuk and Kelly (Rena) Dobia; four step-grandchildren: Kallen (Susie) Prodaniuk, Kole Prodaniuk, Taylor and Bret Dobia; two step-great-grandchildren: Lily and Stevie Prodaniuk; two brothers: Rudy (Sharon) Cech and Ronnie (Priscilla) Cech; one sister: Linda Szymanek; three brothers-in-law: Laurie, Garry (Shirley) and Barney Bertagnolli; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and his many close friends.

A celebration of life will be held in the shop at the family farm at Stauffer on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 4 p.m.