Stanley John Podlenski Jr. passed away peacefully under the full Harvest Moon on September 26, 2026. Beloved husband of the late Mildred (Jones) Podlenski and father of the late John Podlenski. Stan’s loves could be described simply: family and farming.

Stan was born September 3, 1930, in Montague, Massachusetts, and raised on the family’s farm during the Depression by his parents, Stanley John Podlenski Sr. and Ruth (Wilder) Podlenski. He was the last remaining of his siblings, Marguerite (Podlenski) Thompson, Alden, Richard, and Frederick Podlenski. This simple and hard-working upbringing shaped the way he lived his life and provided for his family.

Stan graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1949, where he played trumpet in the band. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy and continued his education at Franklin Institute of Technology and Northeastern University, receiving a degree in electrical engineering. For 32 years, he worked at General Radio (GenRad) in Concord, Massachusetts, and San Jose, California, as a technical support engineer and in several managerial positions in the service department. During the few years he spent in California, he and his wife Millie would enjoy traveling and camping throughout the great state.

Millie and Stan were married in 1957 and eventually moved to Littleton, Massachusetts, where they would raise two children and a few beagles. When they met, she was working at IBM in Boston, Massachusetts, after moving to the city from her family farm in Iowa. Both coming from large farming families, they found much common ground in their values, beliefs, interests, and what is most important in life: family. They loved spending family vacations camping, visiting family in Iowa, and dedicating many weekends in Western Massachusetts helping with the farm.

He is survived by his daughter Ruth Robichaud, son-in-law Michael, and grandchildren Benjamin, Lisa, and Lauren. Near the end of his life, living at his daughter’s house, great-granddogs Zorra, Hamilton, and Ziggy kept a watchful eye on Stan, providing him with comfort and companionship. His presence will be dearly missed, especially his knowledge of most things, sharp wit, and unwavering support of his children and grandchildren.

What brought Stan joy in life was spending time with his family and raising and canning produce. Even after he was physically unable to do so, his years of gardening were extended with the assistance of his grandson, jarring and preserving the harvest to share with all, much to the delight of pickle fans. He also enjoyed woodworking, spending many years assisting his son-in-law as a carpenter and constructing furniture for his granddaughters.

Services will be private. 

If you would like to celebrate Stan’s life, please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://Alzheimer's Association /), a disease that took both his wife and son far before their time.

Arrangements are under the care of Badger Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, 347 King St., Littleton, MA 01460. 978-486-3709