Stanley Eugene Preshaw, 90, of Crystal, passed away on Jan. 6, 2024 after a brief illness.
[private]Born Jan. 28, 1933 he spent his early childhood in Ithaca, moving to Ovid when he was eight. He graduated from Ovid High School in the class of 1950. Classmates over the years have recalled his joyous nature, brilliant smile and his near tardiness for everything.
After his freshman year at Michigan State University he followed his older brother, Sherwood ‘Woody’, into the United States Navy. There he was quickly tapped for flight school. During that lengthy training he was, at one point, posted outside Kansas City where he met Dorothy Owen, a student at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Both would tell that they knew immediately they would marry, doing so in 1955. As soon as he earned his wings they were posted to Hawaii, living in a tropical paradise before it became a state.
In 1958 he and Dorothy moved to Lansing so that he could complete his degree in Wood Technology at MSU. The next year their daughter, Susan, was born. Just short of graduation he was recalled into the Navy as a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Moving to San Jose, Cali., he was based at Moffett Air Field. He was able to finally finish his degree in 1964. When his Naval service was through he began a career with Pan American World Airways, first as a navigator and later as a Captain, retiring in 1991. During his decades of flight Stan visited over 80 countries and met an extraordinary variety of dignitaries and celebrities. Because of both his skill and military background, Pan Am often chose him for special missions. He was involved in establishing flight routes into Russia and China after decades of isolation. He flew R&R missions into South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, earning Presidential recognition. He was a member of the first crew to fly the extraordinary distance from San Francisco to New Zealand. Both Pan Am and the FAA selected him to perform reviews of navigators and pilots.
In 1980 he and Dorothy left the Bay Area and returned to Michigan, settling outside Sheridan. In 1982 he joined the local Lions Club and found the perfect intersection of his Christian faith and his commitment to serve others. Over the decades as a Lion Stan held every office in his club, zone, and district, becoming District Governor in 2002. He volunteered through Lions to assist with vision testing at the Michigan Special Olympics for over 22 years. Central Montcalm residents remember the many years that he made sure every third grader got to go to the circus, even riding the bus with them!
In the weeks since his passing many people have come forward to share the same memory of him. They recalled his gentle smile, quiet demeanor, and his gift for making each person feel valued. He was their mentor and cheerleader, assuring them that they were capable of anything.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Genevieve (McCall) Preshaw; his wife, Dorothy (Owen) Preshaw; and his brother, Sherwood Preshaw.
He is survived by his daughter, Susan (David) Sickelka; his grandchildren, Anthony Sickelka (Courtney Clarksen) and Shannon Pike (Austin); and four grandchildren, Dean Sickelka, Jackson Pike, Mara Joy Sickelka-Clarksen, and Liam Pike.
A memorial service will be held at 1st Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, Mich. (214 E. Newark St.) on Sat., March 23. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m., and the Memorial will be at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place in Ithaca, with Naval honors. A luncheon will be served at the church. Memories and messages of condolence may be shared at www.hurstfh.com[ private]