Stanley 'Stan the Man' Pierce, age 88, of Groton, Vermont died peacefully in his home on Friday, July 26, 2024. He was born in his grandmother's living room in North Danville, Vermont on March 29, 1936, the youngest of three children to parents Raymond and Louise Pierce.

Stanley married Claire J. Roy in 1953 and subsequently enlisted in the United States Air Force in
1954, where he was hand-selected as a candidate for the first special operations unit in the Air
Force, becoming one of the first commissioned Commandos. Over the course of the next 10 years of service, Stan and Claire travelled extensively with his various assignments which included tours in Vietnam, Korea, Bay of Pigs and innumerable covert operations. After leaving the Air Force in 1965 Stanley and Claire returned to Vermont and raised two children, Jeffrey and Jonathan Pierce.

He served on the St. Johnsbury Fire Department, worked as an appliance repairman with Nelson
Brothers in Montpelier, Vermont, became a master electrician and worked in that profession for 35 years, during which he also worked as a salesman and subsequently co-owner of Barre Electric, then worked for Ames Electric in Newport, Vermont until his first retirement. Subsequently he spent 7 years as director of building maintenance for the State of Vermont. He started a home inspection company which he ran for several years. Stanley was truly a renaissance man - there was nothing he couldn't build, fix or repair. In addition, during those years he continued his military service, with the Army National Guard, finally retiring after a total of 27 years of service.

He was an avid life-long motorcycle enthusiast and spent years travelling extensively by motorcycle with Claire, his brother Mel and nephew Wayne and many others. He was an accomplished hunter and loved nothing more than spending time in the woods. In 2011 he was blessed to have found the second love of his life, and second wife Jeannie Denson with whom he was able to share his adventurous spirit for 13 very vibrant, active and loving years. She shared his passion for travel and adventure, and they travelled extensively throughout the United States by motorcycle, car and camper. They also took several cruises which he passionately enjoyed. Together they shared a love of square dancing, and summer get-aways to their camp on 25 acres of undeveloped land in the remote wilderness of northern Maine just outside Fort Kent.

Upon moving to Groton in 2011 he quickly became an active member of the community, re-wiring the Community Center, and serving as a trustee of the Groton United Methodist Church to which he dedicated innumerable hours of service. He spent several years delivering Meals on Wheels to many community members weekly and often stopped to plow their driveway or shovel their walkways.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Claire, his sister, Shirley Pierce Cross and brother, Melville Pierce. He leaves behind his wife, Jeannie; two sons, Jeff, and Jon and his wife Amy; five grandchildren, Savannah, Cain, Emily, Grace, and Nick; two stepsons, Timothy, and Ben; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at the Groton United Methodist Church located on the corner of
Powder Spring Road and Scott Highway (US Route 302) on Saturday, August 3rd at 11 AM.  Interment will be held privately at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in St. Johnsbury, VT.  In the lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Groton United Methodist Church, PO Box 157,
Groton, VT 05046.