In Memory of Stan Mortensen

Stan Mortensen, age 71, of Wall Lake, Iowa, passed away on May 27, 2025, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center of Des Moines, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake, Iowa, with Father Joseph Dillinger and Deacon Butch Stone officiating.

A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary held prior at 4:30 p.m., on Friday, June 13, 2025. Visitation will resume on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. All services will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake, Iowa.  

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

On October 19, 1953, Stanely Allen Mortensen was born to Winston and Blanch (Bouslaugh) Mortensen. He was welcomed home by his “older” sisters Elizabeth, Shirley, and Gloria. Stan was the spoiled baby of the family! He grew up in Arthur, Iowa, with all his buddies pulling many pranks around town…shocker. 

In 1971 Stan graduated from high school, got married, and joined the United States Marine Corps. He was a proud Marine until 1973, but once a Marine Always a Marine! Stan was a member of the Wall Lake American Legion where he served as Chaplin. On June 11, 1971, Stan married Carolyn Fineran and they were blessed with four children: Mollie, Stanley II, Andrew, and Sara. 

Driving truck was Stan’s passion; he has so many friends from his 50+ years and was proud to say he drove over 1 million miles. His favorite saying was “I’ve got more miles backwards than you’ve got going forward”.

In August of 2018 Stan and Carolyn made the trip of a lifetime driving to Anchorage, Alaska. The month-long vacation was topped off when they traveled the Inside Passage on a ferry boat back to the lower 48. 

Stan was a collector of many different “treasures” (or trash). He was also an avid bird watcher and in his spare time his hobby was woodworking. Do all of you have a Shut-the-Box game or marble board?! 

In May of 2024 Stan was diagnosed with ALL (Aggressive Lymphoma Leukemia). After being in remission, Stan received another blow and was told he had AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).  Unfortunately, after many treatments and stays in the hospital, he got sick with pneumonia and never recovered.

Stan’s wife Carolyn, children Mollie (Trent Auen) of Kiron, IA, Sam of Wall Lake, IA, Andy (Jodi) of Boyer, IA and Sara (Chris Rodman) of Wall Lake, IA, along with grandchildren Tyler and Austin (fiancé Melina) Parmelee, Josh Mortensen, Ethan and Mia Mortensen, Emma, Izabelle, Sterling, and Lilly Rodman are left with broken hearts but many fun memories. Rest in peace Daddy (that’s Carolyn’s nickname for him). However, to his kids and grandkids he was fondly known as Dad, Ipcuss, Grampy, Grandfather, Gramps, Frampa, and Grandpa.

Other survivors include sisters Elizabeth (Terry) Johnson, Shirley (Chris) Williams, and Gloria (Roger) Huisenga; in-laws Sandi Grote, Keith (Deb) Fineran, Kenny (Sandie) Fineran, Bob (Leah) Fineran, and Randy (Pippa) Fineran; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and “SPECIAL” families (kids) he met along the way.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents; nephew Darin Streed; in-laws Emmett and Catherine Fineran along with Lois, Jim, John, Barb (Jack) Milner, and Laura Fineran; and brothers, aka trucking buddies.