Stan Wilson passed away at home surrounded by family on March 21st, 2026 from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). He was born on July 9,1941 in Arkansas City, Kansas to Ben Wilson and Cecil Mitchell. A celebration of his life will be held at Western Cider on Sunday, March 29th at 4:00 p.m.

Stan attended Johns Hopkins University for his undergraduate degree from 1959 to 1963, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine from 1962 to 1966. He completed his internship and first year of residency at Osler Medical at Johns Hopkins. He worked in the US Public Health Service from 1968 to 1970, then attended the University of Colorado for his second year of residency and cardiac fellowship from 1970 to 1973. He established the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at St. Patrick Hospital in 1973, recruited the first cardiac surgeon to Missoula in 1974, and practiced cardiology from 1973 to 2016. Stan also earned international acclaim for his invention, developed over years of collaboration with Guidant Corporation and Abbott Laboratories from 1996 to 2016, of a new type of coronary stent which can be placed at the junction of a patient's arteries. Stan was known for his brilliance, calm and concise skill, willingness to take on the most difficult cases, and of course the immeasurable number of lives he saved or changed.

Although he was a world renowned Cardiologist, he did not look or act the part. His large beard, laid back attitude, and plaid shirts, had him sometimes mistaken for a janitor, or several times as Jerry Garcia, scoring him free upgrades to first class. Stan was undeniably generous, kind, and empathetic. The twinkle in his eye, his giggle fits, slapstick humor, and sunny disposition always lit up a room.

Stan had an entirely separate life outside the hospital. He married Donna Hyora in 1969 and had three children; they later divorced. He married his wife Donna Debruin in 1981, and they raised four children. His passions included traveling with family, skiing and golfing in earlier days, and enjoying cigars on his sailboat or cabin deck in later days. He liked to read, especially about history. He loved watching a Griz football game, playing a game of cribbage with his wife, or going to a nice restaurant or backyard barbeque with his children. He had unwavering love for his wife, and truly felt that everything she cooked him was the best dinner he had ever had. He adored his grandchildren and marveled at their different and fun personalities. His brilliant mind, kind and generous heart, and joyful laugh will be so missed by family, friends, colleagues, and patients. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 46 years, Donna Debruin Wilson, their four children and five grandchildren, and his three children from his first marriage.

Ashley Wilson (Mica)

Teague Wilson

Tangi Wilson

Arielle Wilson (Michael and grandchildren Eleanor and Renata)

Paige Raven (Stephanie)

Brittany Wilson-Thompson (Zander and granddaughter Wilma)

Renske McCann (Kyle and grandchildren Oscar and Monroe)