J. Stanley Minter

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J. Stanley Minter, affectionately known as “Stan the Man,” passed away peacefully in Merriam, Kansas on May 19, 2025. He was 74 years old.

Born in Salina, Kansas on January 19, 1951, to Ruth Minter (née Fox) and Cleason Minter, Stanley learned the value of hard work early in life. During his middle school and high school years, he lived on his family’s farm, where he began to develop the independence and determination that would guide him throughout his life.

As a teenager, Stan discovered his twin passions: music and cars. With a group of close friends, he restored a classic Ford Falcon. At the same time, he picked up a guitar. His band, California Spectrum, toured the country during the vibrant 1960s and ’early 70s rock era, even sharing a stage with The Animals in Topeka—a moment he remembered with pride for the rest of his life. His love of classic rock, such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, was something he instilled in his daughters and incorporated into quality family time.

Stan graduated from Abilene High School in 1969 and went on to study at the University of Kansas—proudly claiming to have minored in frisbee, a nod to his good humor and laid-back spirit. In 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Sally Rector, and shortly afterward, the couple settled in Wichita, Kansas, where Stan established Minter Drywall. As a business owner, he brought the same dedication and craftsmanship to his work as he did to everything else in life. He was known not only for the quality of his work, but also for his generosity and loyalty to those who worked alongside him.

Stan also had a deep passion for travel and adventure. He backpacked in the mountains of Colorado, went fly fishing in the remote lakes of Canada, and soaked in the sunsets of the Caribbean. So many precious memories were shared camping with family in their RV and then spending the days on their boat water skiing, fishing, and tubing until dusk.

At home, Stan was a self taught gourmet chef who took great joy in preparing meals for those he loved. His fried chicken and mashed potatoes, homemade spaghetti, and small Cozy-Inn like burgers became a favorite family tradition, made with care, shared with laughter, and always served from the heart. His sense of humor was the pinnacle of his personality, often including word for word quotes from his favorite movies like Forrest Gump and The Great Outdoors as well as countless episodes of Saturday Night Live.

He was preceded in death by his father, Cleason Minter; his mother, Ruth (Fox) Minter Missimer; and his brother, Stephen Minter.

He leaves behind his sister, Kathleen Murphy of Irvine, TX, his three daughters: Courtney Goin (Jason Goin) of Overland Park, KS, Emily Wilcox (Casey Wilcox) of Phoenix, AZ, and Megan Winter (Nathan Winter) of Prairie Village, KS; and his beloved brood of grandchildren, 7 of whom are boys and the youngest, finally a girl: Luke Goin, Jason Goin, Weston Goin, Fox Wilcox, Maverick Wilcox, Marlowe Wilcox, Gavin Winter, and Hudson Winter.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, in honor of Stan’s lifelong love of family and community.