Stanley Cebula

Stanley Duane Cebula, 74, of Goodland, Kansas went to be with our Lord on January 9, 2022.  He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, papa, father-in-law, uncle, friend and community member, who lived a full life and was loved by many.

Stan was born the fourth of five children to Thomas James Cebula and Stella Frances Stroyek Cebula on March 19, 1947, in Goodland, Kansas.  He grew up on the family farm just outside of Goodland.  The house he was raised in as a child became the same house he raised his family in.

He attended Goodland schools, graduating from Goodland High School in 1965.  Stan attended Colorado School of Mines before transferring to Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969, and where he met his future wife, Gwendolyn Ann Forbes.

Stan and Gwen were married on May 17, 1969, at St. Rose of Lima in Denver, Colorado.  In 2019, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  Anyone who observed their Christ-centered relationship was witness to a powerful example of faith, love, and devotion.  They enjoyed traveling, especially to see musicals, dinner theaters and movies at the TCM Fathom events, while also never missing the opportunity to watch a classic film at home together.  One of their most memorable trips together was this past fall to see the colors out west.  It was the best they had ever seen!

Following college, Stan and Gwen spent a year in Eugene, Oregon, working as volunteers in the VISTA program (Volunteers in Service to America) supporting families to build their own homes. After the year of service, they returned to Denver, where Stan worked for Gart Brothers Sporting Goods and later worked for the Denver Water Department. Stan and Gwen returned to Goodland in the mid-1970s where Stan started helping with the Cebula Farm. He took over the farm and continued full time until his retirement in Spring 2018.

Stan and Gwen have six children: Aaron, Adam, Aileen, Alan, Amy and Ashley, also known as the A Team.  One of his greatest joys in life was his children and you could often find him at their extracurricular activities or side by side helping him at the farm.

Stan has been described as a pillar of the community.  He served as a school board member for Goodland Schools from 1991 to 1995.  Additionally, he was a board member for the Co-op.  During his life, Stan was an active member of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, serving as a Cantor and Eucharistic Minister. He had been a parishioner of this parish since birth.  He served as a fourth degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Council #1993. Stan was the Council Grand Knight in 1994 and 1995. He was also the Faithful Navigator for the St. Pius the X Assembly. Stan’s activities included delivering Meals on Wheels, the annual Tootsie Roll Drive, regular bingo nights, Altar Server campout, Flatlander Festival events and annual activities at the county fair. Stan loved running the Tilt-a-Whirl. He was a confirmation teacher, and together with Gwen, they were CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) sponsors, hosting many events at the family farm.

Stan was quite the adventure-seeker and loved any activity that got him outdoors.  Some of his favorite things to do included hunting with his brothers, sons and son-in-law, bird watching with his siblings, camping and hiking trips throughout the southwest with his brother Willie, wind wagon races, and wind surfing.  He also loved to ski and enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren.  As a Papa, he never hesitated to spend time loving on and helping his grandchildren and deeply loved watching them grow.  He was a true family man and had great fun lighting large firework displays with his brothers, sons, and nephews and was always up for making homemade ice cream and drinking Willie Beer.  Most recently, he was able to do all of that in 2021 when family gathered to celebrate 100 years of Cebulas in Sherman County.

Stan is preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law and older brother Jerome Cebula.

Stan is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Cebula of Goodland, children Aaron (Kim) Cebula of Hays, Adam (Miranda) Cebula of Columbus, NE, Aileen (Donald) Raymer of Marion, Alan (Amanda) Cebula of Saint George, Amy (Joseph) Sramek of Goodland, and Ashley (Bryan) Boxberger of Hoisington, siblings Robert (Carol) Cebula of Orange, CA, William Cebula of Prescott Valley, AZ, Sister Janice Cebula of Clinton, IA, grandchildren ­­­­­Jordy, Jymer, and Jayda Raymer, Landon and Zoey Sramek, Addilyn and Aizik Cebula, Lane and Luke Boxberger, Noah Cebula and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.