Stanley L. Fitzi
December 30, 1933 ~ April 2, 2024 (age 90) 90 Years Old
Tribute
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Stanley L. Fitzi of Cape Coral, Florida, who gained his wings on April 2, 2024 at the age of 90. Stan was born on December 30, 1933 in Huntley, Illinois to Ernst and Edna Fitzi.
Stan grew up in Huntley, Illinois where his dare-deviled nature tempted his young life with tricks like blindly speeding his bike across Highway 47. He was able to focus this sense of adventure by joining the United States Navy on May 16, 1951. Stan proudly served in the Navy all over the world. He was stationed in Sasebo and Iwakuni, Japan, the Naval Receiving Station in Brooklyn, New York where he was a storekeeper, and in Port Lyautey, Morocco where he managed the officer's club and booked musical talent to entertain the troops. He was a recruiter in both Wichita, Kansas and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. During the course of his naval career, he was stationed aboard several ships: USS Manchester, French Navy Carrier-Du Petit-Thouars, USS Boxer, USS Austin, USS Chase, and USS LaSalle. Stan spent time at the Nuclear Weapons Training Center in Norfolk, Virginia and went back to Vietnam. He finally returned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Base in Illinois, where he retired from the Navy after 18 years and 9 months on February 2nd, 1970.
It was in Japan that he met his life-long friend, Benedict Flynn in the late 1950s. Stan introduced Ben to his former girlfriend, Martha, who then went on to marry Ben. They remained friends for close to 50 years, spending many Saturday mornings at flea markets and garage "sale-ing" throughout NE Illinois and SE Wisconsin.
Stan married Antoinette Basony, retired from the Navy, and started his civilian life in Wisconsin. They then moved to Round Lake, Illinois where they resided for 40 years and raised a family. He remained in the shipping and logistics industry for his entire career. Retirement brought them to Mountain Home, Arkansas. After Ann's passing, Stan married his granddaughter's mother-in-law, Deanna Hendren, giving an interesting meaning to the term "blended-family". They relocated to Lehigh Acres, Florida for a few years before returning to Arkansas, where Deanna passed. In his final years, Stan spent time between Trussville, Alabama and Cape Coral, Florida where he loved visiting the local restaurants and listening to live music. He was an avid boater and fisherman who loved his family and a good cold beer.
He is survived by his children, Rebecca (Ian) McCreath; Michael (Chris) Fitzi; Dan Fitzi; Edna (Bert) Sugden; sister, Nancy (Richard) Stallbaum; grandchildren, Kiera McManness, Cody McCreath, Katie Fitzi, Jessica Abbott, Carter Fitzi, Shaley Sugden, and Derick Sugden; and several nieces, nephews, other family, and friends. He was widowed by both Antoniette Fitzi and Deanna Fitzi, and was preceded in death by son Steven Fitzi, sisters, Barbara Gurke and Marlene Hurley, his father, Ernst Fitzi, and mother, Edna Fitzi.
The family wishes to extend an invitation to honor Stanley's memory at his memorial and full military burial service on June 10th at 1:00 pm at the Sarasota National Cemetery, Florida.
Stan grew up in Huntley, Illinois where his dare-deviled nature tempted his young life with tricks like blindly speeding his bike across Highway 47. He was able to focus this sense of adventure by joining the United States Navy on May 16, 1951. Stan proudly served in the Navy all over the world. He was stationed in Sasebo and Iwakuni, Japan, the Naval Receiving Station in Brooklyn, New York where he was a storekeeper, and in Port Lyautey, Morocco where he managed the officer's club and booked musical talent to entertain the troops. He was a recruiter in both Wichita, Kansas and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. During the course of his naval career, he was stationed aboard several ships: USS Manchester, French Navy Carrier-Du Petit-Thouars, USS Boxer, USS Austin, USS Chase, and USS LaSalle. Stan spent time at the Nuclear Weapons Training Center in Norfolk, Virginia and went back to Vietnam. He finally returned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Base in Illinois, where he retired from the Navy after 18 years and 9 months on February 2nd, 1970.
It was in Japan that he met his life-long friend, Benedict Flynn in the late 1950s. Stan introduced Ben to his former girlfriend, Martha, who then went on to marry Ben. They remained friends for close to 50 years, spending many Saturday mornings at flea markets and garage "sale-ing" throughout NE Illinois and SE Wisconsin.
Stan married Antoinette Basony, retired from the Navy, and started his civilian life in Wisconsin. They then moved to Round Lake, Illinois where they resided for 40 years and raised a family. He remained in the shipping and logistics industry for his entire career. Retirement brought them to Mountain Home, Arkansas. After Ann's passing, Stan married his granddaughter's mother-in-law, Deanna Hendren, giving an interesting meaning to the term "blended-family". They relocated to Lehigh Acres, Florida for a few years before returning to Arkansas, where Deanna passed. In his final years, Stan spent time between Trussville, Alabama and Cape Coral, Florida where he loved visiting the local restaurants and listening to live music. He was an avid boater and fisherman who loved his family and a good cold beer.
He is survived by his children, Rebecca (Ian) McCreath; Michael (Chris) Fitzi; Dan Fitzi; Edna (Bert) Sugden; sister, Nancy (Richard) Stallbaum; grandchildren, Kiera McManness, Cody McCreath, Katie Fitzi, Jessica Abbott, Carter Fitzi, Shaley Sugden, and Derick Sugden; and several nieces, nephews, other family, and friends. He was widowed by both Antoniette Fitzi and Deanna Fitzi, and was preceded in death by son Steven Fitzi, sisters, Barbara Gurke and Marlene Hurley, his father, Ernst Fitzi, and mother, Edna Fitzi.
The family wishes to extend an invitation to honor Stanley's memory at his memorial and full military burial service on June 10th at 1:00 pm at the Sarasota National Cemetery, Florida.
To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.
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