Date of Birth:
Tuesday, November 7, 1922
Date of Death:
Friday, April 11, 2014
Age:
91 years old

Richard A. Stoos

Richard A.  Stoos, 91, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away suddenly on Friday, April 11, 2014, at his home.

Richard was born November 7, 1922, in Rollingstone, Minnesota to Arthur and Elsie (nee Nuthak) Stoos. He lived in Rollingstone during his childhood.   He still has many friends and family who live in that area.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served as an electrician’s mate second class during World War II.  He was stationed in Trinidad.

After his discharge from the Navy, he moved to Rochester and worked as an electrician. There is a long line of electricians in the Stoos family.  He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for 65 years.  When he retired in 1988, he was working as a Master Electrician for Adair Electric at the IBM plant in Rochester.

He fell in love with Florence Koenig and they were married on August 25, 1947.  They had four children.

His family was the most important thing to Richard.  He became the primary parent to his children when Florence became sick and raised his children on his own after her death in 1976.  He always enjoyed spending time with his family.

Richard was a huge fan of Minnesota sports, especially the Vikings, Twins, and Gophers.  He enjoyed playing cards with friends and family.  He was an expert cribbage player who taught many family members how to play and continued to win most of the time even when he was in his 90s!  He had a wonderful sense of humor.

For a number of years, Richard participated in a study on aging that is being conducted by the Mayo Clinic.  He was hopeful that his participation would help others. He attended Mass at St Francis Catholic Church in Rochester for many years.

He is survived by three of his children:  Brenda (Wayne) Neumann of Wisconsin, Patricia (W. Scott Mason) Stoos of Maryland, and James Stoos of Texas as well as his special friend Joan Kolstad, her daughter Susan (Craig Onken) Kolstad-Onken and granddaughter Cambria (Dan DeVaney) Kolstad-DeVaney. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Melanie Neumann, Emily Neumann, Abby Neumann, Matthew Mason, Daniel Mason, Christopher (Allison) Stoos and Alison Stoos; sisters-in-law Mary Stoos and Dorothy Stoos and many other friends and family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Elsie Stoos, his wife Florence Stoos, his brothers Harold Stoos and Myrton Stoos, his sister Harriet Stoos, his daughter Sharon Stoos and his daughter-in-law Ruth Stoos.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday April 16, 2014 at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester with Reverend Harry Jewison officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.