Stanley Vomacka, 94, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at his home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Stanley was the youngest of nine children, born on May 8, 1922, on their farm near Austin, Minnesota, to his loving parents, John and Anna (Schaball) Vomacka. His parents were immigrants from Prague, Czechoslovakia, at 29 years of age when they came to America in 1912. Stanley and all of his siblings helped their parents with daily farm chores until they left home. He attended his local country one-room school house, being driven in the winter by his father in a horse and buggy under thick wool blankets. Once out of school, Stanley tried to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard at 15. He said he was 18, and no one questioned otherwise. Times were tight on the farm and he was lured by the pay, $1 for each weekly training and $15 for the annual two weeks on duty. He proudly served the United States as a machine gunner during World War II in Northern Africa and Italy. He lost his leg in the Battle of Anzio Beach in his 300th day of fighting.  He was a marksman with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division — the Red Bulls. He was awarded multiple service medals and honorably discharged at the rank of corporal.

After returning home to Albert Lea, Minnesota, Stanley worked alongside his mentor, Arnold Stadheim, in the entrance of the First National Bank Building, what is now the downtown Arts Center. Arnold taught him the trade of watchmaking, even building a grandfather clock. After becoming a certified master watchmaker, Stanley moved to Gem Lake, Minnesota, in the early 1960s and owned and operated “Stanley’s Jewelers” in White Bear Lake until his retirement. Stanley was a member of several veterans organizations, including the local VFW and American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Military Order of the Purple Heart. He was also an avid outdoorsman who fully enjoyed and appreciated wildlife and nature.

Stanley is survived by his sister, Rose Foss of Albert Lea; and his beloved, Laura Christensen; nieces, Louise Peterson, Marcy Eischen, Joyce Petersen, Kathy Vomacka, Betty Towers, and Frances Kycek-Swenson; nephews, Jerome and Franklin Kusy, Alfred Vomacka, Gene and George Pacovsky, and Thomas Kycek; and other extended family.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Marjorie and Adele; sisters, Annie (Louis) Chapek, Georgia (Ed) Kusy, Libby (Charlie) Pacovsky, and Alice (Victor) Kycek; brothers, John, Frank, and Ben Vomacka; and nieces and nephews, Genevieve Kruger, Alvin and Arthur Chapek, Sharon Simpson, and Johnny Parker.

Stanley was a devout Christian with a very generous spirit.  He was loved and will be missed by many, last but not least his loving caregivers, April Courneya, Christy Peterson-Larsen, Connie Charpenter, Sue Carlson, and his “son next door,” Ken Defiel.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea.  Father Russell Scepaniak will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30 until 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Interment will be at Bohemian National Cemetery. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.