Stanley Joseph Martin, 84, of Springfield, passed away Sunday afternoon, January 7, 2024, in Paxton, Illinois with his family at his side.

Stanley was born on January 3, 1940, in Paxton, the son and youngest child of Joseph and Alta (nee Goslin) Martin. They preceded him in death, as did his older brothers Gerald and infant twin boys.

Stanley grew up in Buckley, Illinois and worked on the family farm raising crops and livestock, starting with chores as a young lad. Although Stanley regularly drove trucks, tractors, and farm equipment by the age of ten, his father was one of the last farmers to use horses to plow his fields and round up cattle. Every evening as a young boy, Stanley rounded up the milk cows via horseback to bring them to the barn, thus becoming a skilled rider.

Stanley attended public schools in Buckley, where he played basketball before having to give up sports to work on the farm.  He graduated from Buckley High School in 1957 and served as President of his senior class. After graduating, Stanley worked in Franklin Park near Chicago at Squibb Pharmaceuticals but soon returned home to work on the family farm when his father became ill. He lived there most of his adult life.

While farming, he also worked part-time with the Artesia Township Road Commissioner. In 1968, Stanley took a job with the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he worked for more than 25 years.

Stanley married Wanda Billingsley, whom he first met in grade school, on July 6, 1958, at the United Methodist Church in Buckley. Together they had three children. Stanley and Wanda moved to Springfield in 2014.

Stanley is survived by his wife, Wanda, his sister Joan Walton of Champaign, his three children, Kelly (Carl) Hasselbring of Buckley, Stanley Joseph (Joe) Martin, Jr. of Dow, and Mona Martin (David Joens) of Springfield, and his four grandchildren: Cade (Johanna) Hasselbring of Downs, Jordan (Shawnna Rose) Hasselbring of Paxton, Ali (Nick) Langley of Paxton, and Benjamin Joens of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Izabelle, McKenzi, Aliza and Zavin Hasselbring of Downs, Calvin Hasselbring of Paxton, and Carson and Avery Langley of Paxton.

Stanley was a member of the Pontiac Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Farmers' Union, and the United Methodist Church. He also served as President of the Woodland Cemetery Association, where during his tenure the cemetery was expanded, and historic tombstones were refurbished.  Stanley was recognized by the Illinois State Police for his actions during the Crescent City train derailment in 1970.
Stanley raised champion polled herefords and was one of the first farmers to move to 30-inch rows.  He was an avid amateur citizen band radio enthusiast (KNK6137) and played Euchre and Schafkopf every morning uptown in Buckley with his longtime friends before going to work.  In his final years of living in Buckley during retirement, he opened the "103 East" each morning for those who wanted to play cards. Stanley enjoyed gardening and canning vegetables, landscaping, tinkering in his workshop, and sharing his time with others, whether it was coaching his daughters' women's softball team or helping uptown.  He was an enthusiastic reader and kept up with current events through various newspapers and magazines and enjoyed reading do-it-yourself manuals on topics as varied as home restoration and mechanics to solar energy and self-reliance.

During the Vietnam War, Stanley volunteered to help Jack Luker, a local baker, prepare and distribute Angel Food cakes that were air dropped to troops on the battlefield overseas.  Stanley also sent his German Shepherd, Duke, to Vietnam to help in the war effort.  Duke left the Buckley Depot on the last Illinois Central Railroad passenger train stop in town and saved his trainer's life on more than one occasion.
Stanley was quick to make friends wherever he went, with people from all walks of life.  His ability to turn a word, poke fun at everyday life, and his quick wit will be remembered by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at a date to be determined.  Until then, family and friends are encouraged to honor Stanley through the sharing of stories and spending time together, which he enjoyed most in life. Baier Family Funeral Services, Buckley is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorial gifts may be made in Stanley's name to the Loda United Methodist Church, Loda, Illinois. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.