Stanley Leonis Usel

Stanley Usel peacefully passed away on Wednesday March 15, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colorado at the age of 93. He was born on February 18, 1924 to Leonis and Pierina Betemps Usel on the family ranch near Basalt, Colorado. He graduated Basalt Union High School in 1941 and attended one year of college at CSU. In 1944, he married Maude Elmont from Basalt on March 1, 1944 in Aspen, Colorado. That union lasted 74 wonderful years. He lived and worked on the family ranch where he and Maude had their three children. He was active with the Basalt school system, serving on the school board, and he held memberships in the Farmer’s Union, Odd Fellows and Masonic Lodges, Methodist Church, Local Cattleman’s Association, and the Potato Growers Co-op. He and his sister, Laurie and cousin Leo Grange formed a musical trio that played at many polka dances up and down the Roaring Fork Valley. When he wasn’t playing at a dance, he and Maude were dancing polkas, their favorite dance. In 1958, Stanley and his family moved to Greeley, Colorado after selling the ranch. He completed his BA degree in education at Colorado State College. He then taught at Heath Junior High School in Greeley until the spring of 1964 when he accepted a teaching position at the new Poudre High School in Fort Collins, Colorado. During his years at Poudre, he earned his MA in Media Sciences from UNC. He moved from the classroom to being Media Specialist at Poudre. Later he transferred to the Lincoln Junior High School and served as Media Specialist until he retired in 1988. He was passionate about teaching, especially at the junior high level. After retirement, he and Maude took many trips, one of the highlights being a trip to Aosta, Italy where his mother and dad’s families lived. He enjoyed photography, raising flowers, reading, hiking, chopping wood, and camping, where he liked to cook on a griddle over an open fire. He was a longtime volunteer with the Poudre School District Closet, the Food Bank, the First United Methodist Church, the local Democratic Party, and the Poudre Retired School Employees’ Association (PRSEA). He also belonged to the national, state and local education associations. Stanley lived his life with grace and dignity. He was a loving, kind, caring and gentle person, whose family came first. Everyone who knew him will miss him. He is survived by his wife, Maude; his sisters, Laurie (Galen) Mullins, Rosina (Eldon) Johnson; his children Leroy (Randa) Usel, Joyce (Jerry) Hubka, Carolyn Stegner; his grandchildren, Kendra Stegner (Nathan Bliss) and Matthew Usel; his niece, Sandra (Dave) Beegle and grandniece, Naomi Beegle. The family would like to thank the staff at The Winslow for all the love and care extended to Stanley during his time living there and many thanks to the caregivers at Centre Avenue Health & Rehab Facility. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to PRSEA Scholarship Fund, the Food Bank for Larimer County or the First United Methodist Church of Fort Collins, Colorado - In care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel – 121 W. Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St. Interment First United Methodist Columbarium.

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Stanley Leonis Usel

February 18, 1924 - March 15, 2017