Howard Arvin Stancer, born on April 6, 1940, in Wichita, Kansas, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 21, 2026, at the age of 86. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Howard leaves behind a legacy of faith, compassion, hard work, and cherished family memories.

Howard was born to Clyde and Elfrieda Stancer and grew up in Wichita, Kansas alongside his sister, Clydene Freeman (Stancer). He graduated from North High School in Wichita and later attended Evangel College and Wichita State. It was at Central Assembly of God in Wichita that Howard met Connie Cox, the woman with whom he would share his life.

Howard and Connie began their life together in Wichita, where they welcomed their two children, Gregg and Lisa. Howard worked in insurance and automotive sales before the family moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1968.

With an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to work hard, Howard continued his career in Springfield by starting and operating Chateau Mobile Home Sales and owning English Village Mobile Home Park.

He later expanded into real estate development. His largest project was Elfindale, a mixed-use development that included a shopping center, an office building, and Creekside at Elfindale, a senior living community. His other projects included the Montclair Shopping Center, Espree Swim & Fitness Center, and many other properties throughout Springfield and the surrounding area. Through his work, Howard left a lasting mark on the community, creating places where people could live, work, and gather.

Howard enjoyed sports, the outdoors, and the friendships that grew around them. He played competitive fast-pitch softball, golf, enjoyed pheasant hunting in the fields of Kansas, and loved fishing and boating with the people closest to him. Vail, Colorado, held a special place in his heart, where he and Connie celebrated their anniversary for many years and enjoyed ski and golf trips with family and friends.

One of Howard’s most treasured places was his farm with a log cabin and the headwaters of Turnback Creek. Known affectionately as “The Farm,” it became a gathering place for the family, where weekends and holidays brought everyone together. Those shared experiences became cherished memories, woven into the lives of his children and grandchildren.  Whether at the farm or in the mountains, Howard helped create traditions that gave his family time together and memories to carry forward.

Faith was at the heart of Howard’s life. He loved his church, served on church boards, supported the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and led Bible studies in the community he loved. Throughout his life, he sought to serve Christ and share his faith with others. His family finds comfort in the Savior he loved so deeply and in the promised hope of being together again.

Howard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Connie Stancer of Springfield; his son, Gregg Stancer, and wife, Kai, and their children, Jacob, Hayden, and Garrett Stancer; and his daughter, Lisa Pitt, and husband, Doug, and their children, Landon and Sydney Pitt, and Reagan Pitt Argaez.

His family has continued to grow through the addition of grandchildren’s spouses and seven great-grandchildren, each a treasured part of the legacy he leaves behind.

Howard’s legacy lives on through the family he loved, the community he helped shape, and the faith he shared. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered in the places his family gathers, the traditions they continue, and the stories they tell for generations to come.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Copper Rock Village for their compassionate care over the past year. Their kindness and support brought immeasurable comfort to Howard and his family during his final season of life.

“Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master.”

— Matthew 25:23, ESV