Carlyle A. Stanek

Carlyle "Conky" A. Stanek was born on June 3, 1936, to Leonard and Evelyn Tukua Stanek Sr. in Austin, MN. Conky moved to Albert Lea in 1942. When he was 10 years old his mother married Victor Spilde in Albert Lea. He attended Albert Lea High School and received his GED in the Marine Corp. He joined the United States Marine Corp in 1954, served in Japan and was on the Marine Corp boxing team. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1957. He then served in the National Guard for 3 years. Conky was united in marriage to Barbie Senjem and to this union 4 children were born. He was employed at Wilson & Co., worked construction, and as a bartender in Albert Lea and Ft. Meyers, Florida at the Spanish Main. Conky worked on the oil rigs and shrimp boats in Louisiana. He started boxing around the age of 11 years old at the former armory on Clark Street. Conky would box in smokers before the main events. He then went on to box in Golden Gloves and represented Albert Lea in the state tournament for 3 years. Conky enjoyed going south in the winter. He loved fishing and rummage sales. Conky was a man of few words, quiet and independent. Survivors include his former wife Barbie and her husband Bill Rees; children, Vickie Rees, Darcie Ed Fitzsimmons, Marcus Ginnell Rees, Carla Bob Grubbs; eight grandchildren; brother, Lenny Sharon Stanek of Albert Lea; sister, Kay Phillip Beaver of Byron, MN; aunts, Marion Stanek and Alma Phillips; uncles, Bud Joan Stanek and Don Marty Stanek; nieces and nephews, Kevin Beaver, Lonna and Allen Stork, Jerry Stanek, Mary and Kieth Whitaker, Kathy and Tim Borland, David and Amy Stanek, Mike and Laurie Stanek; and many cousins. Conky was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn and Victor Spilde, and Leonard Stanek, Sr.; grandparents, Albert and Caroline Stanek, Carl and Emila Tukua and Helmer and Emma Spilde; nephew, Randy Beaver; several aunts and uncles. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Crossroads Community Hospice.