Todd Stinson, 62, of Lincoln, formerly of Grand Island died Feb 7th of natural causes at his farm near Waverly. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, Feb 23rd, 10 AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island with Father Don Buhrman officiating. Burial of ashes will be in the Grand Island Cemetery.
All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. He is survived by his life partner of 27 years, Cindy Chessmore of Lincoln, her daughter Niki and fiancée Mike Joy and her children Miles (Jake) Hannah and Samantha; a sister, Sarah (Tim) Scott and their children Jackson and Patrick; and a brother, Chris (Sue) and children Sam and Elizabeth. Also survived by nephews, CJ and John (Frosty) McClanahan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Shelly and husband Gary McClanahan. Memorials may be made to the Chessmore Education Fund. Todd was born on July 29th, 1956 in Grand Island to Jack and Georgia Stinson.
He attended St. Mary’s grade school and graduated from GISH in 1974. He attended UNL and began his career as a stockbroker with First Mid America in Omaha, later moving to Dallas working in the same field. If Confucius was right and if one does what one loves then they will never work a day in their life, then Todd quit working about fifteen years ago when he became involved in the horse industry, thus never working again.
He absolutely loved being in that business and cared for his animals with a compassion that was unsurpassed. Their welfare always came first. For the last five years he was involved with 756 Farms LLC, a beautiful, peaceful thoroughbred farm in upstate New York about forty miles from Saratoga Race Course running an operation of up to one hundred horses.
Since his death so many people have said “Todd was Todd”. As Polonius said to Laertes in Hamlet, “To Thine Own Self Be True,” and Todd epitomized that. He spoke with his mind and did so in a voice that was at times calculated to not discriminate against those hard of hearing.
But he had a quiet gentleness to him that endeared him to so many, especially children. A person that always reached out to those who were hurting. Todd was unfailingly upbeat, always absolutely convinced that things would work out wonderfully.
What a great attitude to have. He was kind of like a court jester, would fly into a room making people laugh (or gasp) then fly back out. People were not ambivalent about Todd.
He was such a loving, funny, hardworking, determined person. Beneath a boisterous, gregarious, sometimes exasperating exterior, beat a heart that was unfortunately tender in more ways than one. He died caring for his horses, doing what he loved.
May we all be so lucky. Todd finally crossed the finish line…with a nose in front. Good bye only for now dear Todd, we love you with all our hearts.
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