Obituary of Stanley R. Gurski

Stanley R. Gurski April 08, 1917 - August 08, 2006 Stanley R. Gurski, 89, son of the late Frank, Sr. and Eva (Staszowski) Gurski, died Tuesday, August 8th in Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of the late Marjorie (Rydell) Gurski. He was born April 8, 1917 in Brookfield, where he was a resident most of his life. He attended school at the one room school house, Center School in Brookfield and graduated from Henry Abbot Technical School. He moved to the Bishop Curtis Home in Bethel two years ago, and in 2005 to The Gardens, an assisted living complex in Danbury. He is survived by a daughter, Janice Howard of Brookfield; three grandchildren, Pamela (Howard) Gardner and her husband, Michael of Garner, NC.; Doreen (Howard) McManus and her husband Timothy, of Danbury; and Vernon Howard of Brookfield; four great grandchildren, Jonathan, James, Shawn, and Ethan of Garner, NC.; one nephew, Frank Gurski and his wife, Lynn of Washington, CT; two nieces, Helen Lacagnina and her husband, Sal of Florida and Carol Gurski, wife of his nephew, the late Harry Gurski, Jr.; a great nephew, David Gurski and his wife, MaryEllen of New Milford and a great niece, Lynne (Gurski) Zukowsky of Texas; and long-time friend, Myla Magee of Bethel; as well as several cousins. In addition to his parents and nephew, he was predeceased by two brothers, Harry and Frank Gurski, and a sister, Helen Gurski. He worked as a boy on the family owned dairy farm on Obtuse Hill Road and officially took over its management from 1943 until 1968, when 80 acres of the farm were sold to the town of Brookfield for open space. Four years ago the remaining acres and farm buildings were also sold to the town. His family purchased the dairy farm from Henry Foote in 1918. Through the years, the family also grew oats, wheat, vegetables, and tobacco as well as hay for livestock. In 1968, Mr. Gurski began working for the Brookfield School System, from which he retired in 1982. As a member of the system's maintenance and grounds crew, he was one of four people who repaired boilers and audiovisual equipment, and kept the school grounds trimmed and the roads and drives clear on snowy days. He worked part-time for the school system until 2002, when he entered fulltime retirement. He liked to bowl and won numerous trophies in men's leagues and in couple's leagues with his wife, Marjorie. He scored several 700 series. He also loved fishing on Lake Candlewood, restaurant dining, photography, traveling, and vegetable gardening. He rode motorcycles until the 1970's. In 1937, he took flying lessons at Danbury Airport, and earned his flying license in 1938. He flew Pipers and Cessnas, but gave it up in 1977 because, he said, the sky was too crowded. He often recalled that when Brookfield was still mostly farmland, he could buzz the treetops or land in a convenient field if the plane malfunctioned. During World War II, as a member of the local Civil Air Patrol, he flew the Connecticut coastline to monitor the area for signs of enemy submarines. Funeral Information Funeral Services will be held at the Brookfield Funeral Home on Saturday, August 12th at 10:30am. Cremation and interment in St. Francis Cemetery will take place at a later date. The family will receive friends at the Brookfield Funeral Home on Friday, August 11th between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00pm. Donations Information In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Gurski Farm Preservation Fund in care of Ridgefield Bank, PO Box 954, Georgetown, CT. 06829.