Stanley R. Soldner

Stanley Soldner Dies on July 19, 2023, at Age 91 Stanley Rudolph Soldner was born on October 31, 1931, at 11:45 PM to Harry C. Soldner and Virginia Smith Soldner of Farina, Illinois. Stan’s twin brother, Richard O. Soldner, was born the next day at 12:15AM. The twins were nicknamed Timothy and Redtop which undoubtedly foreshadowed Stan’s lifelong commitment to the grain business and farming. Stan graduated from Farina High School in 1949 and then headed to Depauw University with his brother. Finding Depauw a bit stuffy for two young men from the Village of Farina, Stan transferred to the University of Illinois where he became a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and obtained a degree in business. While at the University of Illinois, Stan met a Chicago girl who became the love of his life, Janice Josephine Feldkamp, to whom he was married for 66 years. After Stan’s service in the Army during the Korean War, Stan and Janice returned to Farina whereupon Stan entered the family grain business, Ging Inc. Ging purchased the Edgewood grain elevator which Stan turned into a thriving operation serving the farmers of the Edgewood area. When his father retired, Stan took over the Farina elevator and oversaw the successful operation of the Edgewood, Altamont and eventually Cowden elevators. When Stan retired, he had worked 50 years in the grain elevator and storage business. Farina’s high-speed train loading elevator and facility is built upon Stan’s vision to effectively serve the farmers in the Farina area and to make Farina a local hub for the grain business. Throughout his life, Stan enjoyed watching the crops grow and buying and selling grain. Stan loved to work in the soil and during the summer his flower gardens were almost always in bloom. Stan was also an avid hunter who raised some of the finest English Setter dogs to ever point a quail. Stan and Janice raised their three children, Sharon Keifer, Steve Soldner and Woody Soldner in their Farina home which was their version of paradise. Stan and Janice’s strong faith was practiced at the Farina United Methodist Church. Throughout his life, Stan was committed to honesty, fair-dealing and doing his very best to help those around him whether it be family, friend or a new acquaintance. Stan was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, his sister, Carolyn Soldner, and his wife, Janice. Stan and Janice are survived by their three children, eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be on September 9, 2023, 12 Noon, at the Farina United Methodist Church. Lunch following service. Visitation will begin at 10 AM. Memorials may be made to the Farina Cemetery and will be received by the Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home, PO Box 97, 310 Broadway, Salem, IL 62881 (618-548-1234.) Online condolences may be left at www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland Funeral Home Facebook Page.

Stanley R. Soldner

November 1, 1931 - July 19, 2023