Stanley Bruce Digerness PhD

March 3, 1941 – July 15, 2026

With hearts full of gratitude for a life devoted to family, discovery, and service, the family of Stanley Bruce Digerness announces that he passed away on July 15, 2026.

Born on March 3, 1941, in Eveleth, Minnesota, Stan was proud of his Norwegian heritage and carried the values of hard work, curiosity, and quiet generosity throughout his life. On August 16, 1969, he married Brenda, and together they built a life defined by partnership, faith, and adventure — dancing in ballrooms across the United States and standing beside each other through more than five decades of marriage.

Stan is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mabel Digerness, and his siblings, Edna, Harry, and Alida.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Brenda; his sons, Karl and Joseph; his grandchildren, Joe, Andy, Owen, and Jordan; and his brother Warren Digerness in Eveleth, Minnesota. He will be remembered as a selfless and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Stan began his career at the Mayo Clinic in 1965. In 1966, he moved to Birmingham to continue work with Dr. John Kirklin, where he went on to spend nearly four decades — from 1966 to 2004 — as a researcher in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also taught biochemistry in the Surgical Physician Assistant Program at the School of Health-Related Professions. Over the course of his career, Stan authored and/or contributed to more than 65 scholarly publications, which have been cited over 1,700 times by the research community; he contributed lasting work in the study of myocardial metabolism, calcium metabolism, and organ preservation. He was a member of the American Heart Association, the International Society for Heart Research, and the American Physiological Society.

Outside the lab and lecture hall, Stan was an avid and inventive carpenter and woodworker who found joy in building things with his hands. He gave generously of his time — tutoring underprivileged adults toward their GED, serving on Habitat for Humanity's "go-to" team, and traveling with Brenda to disaster sites across the country with the Red Cross. A longtime member of Dawson Church, he played trumpet in the orchestra for many years and took part in Builders for Christ during the summers. Stan enjoyed exploring this beautiful country with his family, and traveling extensively with his wife in retirement. He was also a life member of the Concordia Dance Club, where ballroom dancing with his wife Brenda gave him decades of joy and lasting friendships.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Stan's caregivers and Expect Care Hospice for their compassion in his final weeks after an extensive battle with both Alzheimer's disease and metastatic pancreatic cancer. He died peacefully at home.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 12:00–2:00 PM at Ridout's Valley Chapel. Pallbearers will be Daniel Amason, Derrick Amason, Adam Williamson, Jeff Hammock and Keith Boyrd with honorary pallbearers will be Terry Humber, Samuel Prim, Dewey Jones, III and William Holman.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made in honor of Stan's life and memory to any of the following:

Habitat for Humanity https://www.habitat.org/donate/?link=628

The Dr. John W. Kirklin Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Fund or O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Fund for Excellence https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1881/giving19/interior.aspx?sid=1881&gid=3&pgid=891&cid=2127

Alzheimer’s research

Dawson Church Building Fund https://www.dawsonchurch.org/faithful-together-commitment

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.