Kirk "Bear" Stansbery

A celebration of life for Kirk “Bear” Stansbery, 49, of Chariton, will be held Friday, February 23, 2024, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Kirk would want everyone to wear casual Hawkeye attire for the celebration. Memorials may be made to his family for his son Khyler and for expenses.

Kirk Walter Stansbery was born December 4, 1974, to Dick and Karen Stansbery. He was born on his mom’s birthday. Being the youngest child, he was welcomed home by his siblings: Kenneth, Colleen, Chris, and Craig. Bear attended elementary school at Williamson, where many lifelong friendships were made. He then went to Chariton High School where he was very active in sports. Bear was a tenacious wrestler and wrestled at state in 1992 and 1993. He was also a great football player. No matter what sport he played, Bear was always committed to being the best.

Bear was a cattleman in many ways and loved working with cattle. He worked for many farmers and sale barns throughout the years and recently did logging on his own. Bear was always on the go. He had a love for sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes, and never passed up a stop for his lottery tickets. He enjoyed most the time spent with his friends and family. 

Family has always been important to Bear. Bear and Cali were blessed with a son, Khyler in 2010. After Khyler was born, there was nothing more important to Bear than seeing his son happy and succeeding. They shared a love for sports together. He passionately cheered for Khyler at every sporting event. He cheered so passionately at baseball games he was given the nickname “stickman” from the baseball boys because he would pace back and forth, pulling branches off the trees in the outfield – where he was strongly encouraged to stand. 

Bear’s family would like to thank the LCHC ambulance crew, the emergency room staff at LCHC, and Donnie and Kris Wilson for their help, care, and understanding at the time of his passing.

Bear passed away February 18, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Bear was never one to complain, as he fought his battle he remained at peace, always strong, always fighting – the Bear Tuff way. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Dick Stansbery; brother, Kenneth Stansbery; and sister, Kathleen Stansbery.

He will be greatly missed by the greatest joy of his life, his son, Khyler; his mother, Karen Stansbery; siblings: Colleen (Randy) Grgurich, Chris Stansbery, and Craig (Kim) Stansbery; along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.