Bret Stanley, Ramsey, Minnesota, passed away November 19 at the age of 57. Bret was born and raised in the Morgan Park neighborhood of Duluth and was a member of St. Margaret Mary church there. He spent 6 months in Saudi Arabia as part of the Gulf War in 1990 with the 109th LEM National Guard Unit. In 1993, he married Tracy and they moved to the Twin Cities, where they raised four children together.

Bret was well-known for his sense of humor, from answering the phone with "Hello! How may I ease your life" to greeting the urologist with "That's a pisser". He made us laugh with his jokes, and groan with his puns. He enjoyed spending time in the Boundary Waters and the "Hunting shack" and camping with his family and Scouts.

In later years, his mobility was greatly impaired, but he still managed to get to work at Merchant Manufacturing, and maintained an interest in coin collecting, cribbage, music, the Twins, Vikings and Wild, and tracking down the best butter popcorn he could find.

Survived by loving wife, Tracy, four children, Jen, Lily (Dan), Matthew, Patrick, parents Tom and Jan, brothers Bill (wife Jennifer), Joe, niece and nephew Katelyn, Dylan, mother-in-law Anne Claseman and many friends.

Funeral mass on November 29 at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Anoka, 10 am visitation, 11 am mass. Internment at St. Odilia in Shoreview with military honors to follow. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.