Gary Stanton

Gary “Straight Pipe” Stanton passed away on November 24, 2024 at UW Hospital following a tragic accident at his home. He was born January 25, 1963 to Bruce and Jane (Carr) Stanton of Cornelia, WI.  From a young age, he knew what a good hard day's work was. Gary grew up helping his dad on the family farm. When his day was done, he and his buddies went to town to have a few drinks. Ok, maybe more than a few. But no matter how late he was out, he got his work done the next day. After the passing of his dad at a young age, his mom sold the farm and Pipe bought a place outside of Rewey. In 1982 Pipe started tractor pulling and has been “hooked” ever since. He started pulling with the DairyLand Antique club and was a member until it stopped. Pipe shared his love of tractors with his daughter Sadie, who began pulling with her dad by her side at the age of 13. He started with pulling John Deere's, then he and some of his close buddies built 3 McCormick-Deering tractors. Gary and his friends pulled those tractors for many years until stepping up with the big dogs with his Minneapolis Molines. That's when he became famous as the man with the M&M tractors, the Hillbilly Hooker and Mound City Mini. He never spent any money on paint, because he said, “it's not the paint that makes them run good”. During the many years he pulled them, people learned that he was always at the top of the leaderboard. Everywhere he went, people seemed to know who he was. Gary was a storyteller and his friends and family will miss his gift of gab, even though we've heard the stories a hundred times. In the fall, you would find him cutting wood for the winter, He also enjoyed gardening and harvesting it. Gary spent many hours by himself canning the goods and sharing with friends and family. He was known to make the best refrigerator pickles and made them by the gallons. Winter was when he enjoyed his time away from work. He would go ice fishing with his friends, Tony, Rose, and Mike. Except when it snowed, that's when he would plow snow in Platteville and for his neighbors.

Pipe worked at Watsons quarry in Dodgeville and Mowry's in Leadmine. He then spent many years at Rural Excavating and then J&N Stone where he met many coworkers who became lifelong friends.

Gary is survived by his daughter, Sadie Jane Stanton and her mother Becky Rupp of Cobb, WI, his uncle Gordy (Marge) Stanton and their family, who he talked to daily, Mason who he helped raise and a special lady he referred to as the “Food Fairy”. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 4:00 PM Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Melby Funeral Home and Crematory in Platteville, WI. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1pm until the time of service. Pastor Mary Ann Floerke will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Gary M. Stanton memorial fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

His family extends a special thank you to Southwest EMS, UW Burn Center and Trauma Life Center.