Richard Eric Stanley

Rick was born February 20, 1950 in New Liskeard, ON. A very unsettled childhood and broken family eventually led him to his foster parents, Dave and Marie Leng in Cayuga, ON at the age of 10. Growing up on their farm, Rick found the loving family he had been searching for, and there developed his love of hunting, fishing, and trapping. He often recalled the times he helped with farm chores, his granddad’s dairy cows, or bringing in the corn.

Rick was a constable for Consolidated Rail Corporation, working out of the Niagara Falls train yard. He graduated from the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, ON during this time. In 1978 he met his future wife, Carol, who was also a constable at the same yard. They were married on February 26, 1982 in Niagara Falls, and had recently celebrated their 33rd anniversary.

It was a lifelong dream of Rick’s to “move up north”. When the opportunity became available, he and Carol set out for Atikokan, where Rick was hired as a constable with the Atikokan Township Police Force in September 1978. Rick loved his work as a police officer, and received additional training as a breathalyzer tech and hostage negotiator.

Rick was also active in the community, working with the Conservation Club, the Atikokan Handgun Club, the Atikokan Motocross Club, as a coach for two years with Atikokan Minor Hockey, and as an officer with the Air Cadet squadron. His hobbies through the years included karate, firearms repair, and custom reloading. Above all, he loved hunting, with fishing a close second.

It was his son, Kyle, who brought the most joy to Rick’s life, however. They spent hours at Charleson so Kyle could ride his motocross bike, and spent almost every weekend for summers on end travelling to races, from Grunthal, MB to Red Rock ON, Deer River, MN and to Walton, ON.

Unfortunately, Rick’s renal disease cut short his ability to enjoy most of the things he loved about his life. He had received a new kidney in February 1984, but after eight years it ceased working. He was again forced to stop working as a police officer in August 1992 and returned to dialysis in Thunder Bay three times a week. He kept this pace for almost 23 years, with only a short break for a second kidney transplant in May 1998, a donation from his wife. However, drugs administered while he was in the transplant unit shut down the kidney, and it never fully recovered.

Rick had an indomitable spirit that saw him through many health crises over the years. Even when at his lowest, he would never admit that he was anything but “fine”. But, as his 65th birthday approached, Rick realized that he could no longer keep up the pace he had set for himself, or overcome the other medical issues that were robbing him of his mobility and ability to enjoy life. On his birthday, Rick had his final dialysis treatment and came home to spend his final days with his wife and son.

Rick was predeceased by his parents and grandparents, a sister-in-law, and his father-in-law. He is survived by his immediate family and one brother, Bill Leng, of Simcoe, ON.

We wish to send our heartfelt thanks to Dr. McCready and all the nurses and staff at the TBRHSC Renal Unit. They were Rick’s second family and looked after him for over two decades. As well, we are so thankful for the caring and compassionate staff at the Atikokan General Hospital, who took care of Rick during his final week.

Cremation has taken place, through Green Funeral Home. There will be no formal service. A quiet, private memorial will be held in the spring, when we are able to plant a tree in Rick’s honour, on the property he cherished as his home.

If you wish to make a donation in remembrance of Rick, I know he would appreciate it going to the Atikokan General Hospital, the Kidney Foundation, or a charity that has meaning to you and your family.