Stanley Jerry Soukup, 83, of Harshaw, formerly of Delavan, passed away July 6, 2015, at his home.
He was born Aug. 2, 1931, in Cook County, Ill., and the pride of the late James and Blanche Soukup.
Stanley graduated from Delavan High School in 1949, and he was an avid player of all intramural sports. After high school, he was offered pro pitching contracts from the Boston Braves and Chicago White Sox declining both offers to serve as quarter master in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. During his service he pitched for the Navy baseball league, Com Surf Pac, where he experienced a career-ending injury to his pitching arm. He then married Sandra Scott and they had six children together while continued his passion for baseball, coaching the Delavan Legion team from 1970 to 1975 when he took the team to state. Stanley belonged to the sheet metal union for many years and took an early retirement at the age of 55 when he relocated to Harshaw in 1987.
Baseball, football, hunting and fishing were Stanley’s passions. He especially enjoyed flyfishing, designing his own lures and flies. Wild life drew to him, which will undoubtedly live on through his sons. Due to his love of wildlife sport, he made taxidermy a hobby, which turned into a successful business after he retired and his work was admired by many.
He shared the last 17 years with his love and significant other, Blondie Mitchell. Throughout their years together, they enjoyed family and life. They especially enjoyed traveling to casinos throughout the state, and friends and family enjoyed their casino stories.
He impacted many lives and had a great sense of humor and “a way with words” right up until the time of his death. The family feels blessed to have had an opportunity to spend time with him and is thrilled he is home with his Blondie.
Stanley was preceded in death by his significant other, Blondie Mitchell; his father, James Soukup; his mother Blanche (Forst) Soukup; an uncle, Rudy Forst; an aunt Frances (Junio) Forst; a nephew Rudy Forst; and two daughters Sheila and Shelly Soukup.
Stanley is survived by long-time friend Sandra Behn, of Delavan; Skip (Patti) Soukup of Delavan; Scott (Angela) Soukup, of Harshaw; Sherry (fiancé Steve Frederick) Soukup, of Sharon; Sue (Rich) Schroeder, of Pewaukee; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his close cousins from Cicero, Ill., the Jerry Forst family.
A celebration of his life will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Veterans Memorial Park pavilion.
