Published by Worlein Funeral Home
Brian George Staska, age 53, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
He was born January 26, 1964 in Owatonna, Minnesota, the son of George and Jeralene (Stavenau) Staska. He attended Owatonna High School, graduating in 1982. In 1986 he joined the Owatonna Fire Department. During his 12 years there he became one of the youngest to be promoted to Captain and was urged to become a trainer/instructor. Brian served a year in Stewartville and then spent 18 years as a Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College. He continued his firefighting career with the Brownsdale and Austin Fire Departments. During his career at Riverland he worked with Wanda Quinn Goligowski who became his wife on February 18, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They spent their entire marriage working side by side. Together the couple raised three daughters. Brian treasured the time spent with his family. It brought him great joy to watch the girls participate in sports. His work training and instructing for the Fire Department was very fulfilling for him. Brian will be dearly missed by family, friends, and co-workers.
Survivors include his parents George (Vonnie) Staska of Owatonna, Jeralene Staska, also of Owatonna; his wife Wanda Staska of Austin, MN; his daughters Brooke Goligowski of Austin, MN, Kaitlyn Goligowski of Austin, MN, Madison Staska of Austin, MN; brothers Bradley (Jodi) Staska of Owatonna, MN, David (Jaime) Staska of Lake Elmo, MN; sister Connie (Craig) Minowa of Viroqua, WI; father-in-law and mother-in-law Eddie and Doris Quinn of Albert Lea, MN; brother-in-law David (Sue) Quinn of Inver Grove Heights, MN; sisters-in-law Sandy (Randy) Tomschin of Alden, MN, Barb (Paul) Deckard of Reedsburg, WI; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium, with Pastor David Sobek officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3 at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin, and for one hour prior to the service at Knowlton Auditorium on Saturday. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Brian’s family. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.
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Riverland fire training instructor, firefighter dies; Brian Staska was a long-time instructor
By the Austin Daily Herald
Published 9:05 am Monday, October 30, 2017
Brian Staska, who for 30 years trained and helped others fight deadly fires, lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
Staska, of Austin, was only 53 years old, but he did much in those years.
He was credited with having developed one of the best fire science training programs in the country. He served departments in Owatonna and Stewartville and, in recent years, he served on both the Austin and Brownsdale fire departments.
For 18 years, he was the Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College.
“He was a master of his trade,” said Brownsdale Fire Chief David Pike. “His passion was the fire service, working to make our firefighters safer and more efficient.”
He added that Staska’s instruction was felt throughout a good portion of Minnesota, and in Iowa, as well.
Brian Staska hugs Deb Roed Saturday at the Mower County Fairgrounds near the start of “Putting the Axe on Cancer” a benefit for Staska last year. Herald file photo
Pike said Staska was able to continue his service to Brownsdale until about three months ago when his illness prevented him from participating any longer.
“It was sad; he wanted to contribute for as long as he could,” Pike said. “He stayed with it as long as he was able.”
In 2017, Staska was honored with a lifetime achievement award from The Minnesota Council for Continuing Education and Customized Training. Those who nominated him said at the time he was “always looking for new techniques and technologies that keep firefighters safe and allow for better rescue operations for saving civilian lives.
“His passion for his work is exemplified by his constant striving to keep current in his industry and the continuous improvements he makes to his programming.”
A measure of the regard held by his friends and the firefighting community was witnessed last year during a benefit that drew over 1,000 to the Mower County Fairgrounds.
Among his survivors is his wife, Wanda, and their three children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium.
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Brian George Staska, age 53, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
He was born January 26, 1964 in Owatonna, Minnesota, the son of George and Jeralene (Stavenau) Staska. He attended Owatonna High School, graduating in 1982. In 1986 he joined the Owatonna Fire Department. During his 12 years there he became one of the youngest to be promoted to Captain and was urged to become a trainer/instructor. Brian served a year in Stewartville and then spent 18 years as a Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College. He continued his firefighting career with the Brownsdale and Austin Fire Departments. During his career at Riverland he worked with Wanda Quinn Goligowski who became his wife on February 18, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They spent their entire marriage working side by side. Together the couple raised three daughters. Brian treasured the time spent with his family. It brought him great joy to watch the girls participate in sports. His work training and instructing for the Fire Department was very fulfilling for him. Brian will be dearly missed by family, friends, and co-workers.
Survivors include his parents George (Vonnie) Staska of Owatonna, Jeralene Staska, also of Owatonna; his wife Wanda Staska of Austin, MN; his daughters Brooke Goligowski of Austin, MN, Kaitlyn Goligowski of Austin, MN, Madison Staska of Austin, MN; brothers Bradley (Jodi) Staska of Owatonna, MN, David (Jaime) Staska of Lake Elmo, MN; sister Connie (Craig) Minowa of Viroqua, WI; father-in-law and mother-in-law Eddie and Doris Quinn of Albert Lea, MN; brother-in-law David (Sue) Quinn of Inver Grove Heights, MN; sisters-in-law Sandy (Randy) Tomschin of Alden, MN, Barb (Paul) Deckard of Reedsburg, WI; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium, with Pastor David Sobek officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3 at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin, and for one hour prior to the service at Knowlton Auditorium on Saturday. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Brian’s family. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.
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Riverland fire training instructor, firefighter dies; Brian Staska was a long-time instructor
By the Austin Daily Herald
Published 9:05 am Monday, October 30, 2017
Brian Staska, who for 30 years trained and helped others fight deadly fires, lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
Staska, of Austin, was only 53 years old, but he did much in those years.
He was credited with having developed one of the best fire science training programs in the country. He served departments in Owatonna and Stewartville and, in recent years, he served on both the Austin and Brownsdale fire departments.
For 18 years, he was the Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College.
“He was a master of his trade,” said Brownsdale Fire Chief David Pike. “His passion was the fire service, working to make our firefighters safer and more efficient.”
He added that Staska’s instruction was felt throughout a good portion of Minnesota, and in Iowa, as well.
Brian Staska hugs Deb Roed Saturday at the Mower County Fairgrounds near the start of “Putting the Axe on Cancer” a benefit for Staska last year. Herald file photo
Pike said Staska was able to continue his service to Brownsdale until about three months ago when his illness prevented him from participating any longer.
“It was sad; he wanted to contribute for as long as he could,” Pike said. “He stayed with it as long as he was able.”
In 2017, Staska was honored with a lifetime achievement award from The Minnesota Council for Continuing Education and Customized Training. Those who nominated him said at the time he was “always looking for new techniques and technologies that keep firefighters safe and allow for better rescue operations for saving civilian lives.
“His passion for his work is exemplified by his constant striving to keep current in his industry and the continuous improvements he makes to his programming.”
A measure of the regard held by his friends and the firefighting community was witnessed last year during a benefit that drew over 1,000 to the Mower County Fairgrounds.
Among his survivors is his wife, Wanda, and their three children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium.
Print Article
Published by Worlein Funeral Home
Brian George Staska, age 53, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
He was born January 26, 1964 in Owatonna, Minnesota, the son of George and Jeralene (Stavenau) Staska. He attended Owatonna High School, graduating in 1982. In 1986 he joined the Owatonna Fire Department. During his 12 years there he became one of the youngest to be promoted to Captain and was urged to become a trainer/instructor. Brian served a year in Stewartville and then spent 18 years as a Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College. He continued his firefighting career with the Brownsdale and Austin Fire Departments. During his career at Riverland he worked with Wanda Quinn Goligowski who became his wife on February 18, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They spent their entire marriage working side by side. Together the couple raised three daughters. Brian treasured the time spent with his family. It brought him great joy to watch the girls participate in sports. His work training and instructing for the Fire Department was very fulfilling for him. Brian will be dearly missed by family, friends, and co-workers.
Survivors include his parents George (Vonnie) Staska of Owatonna, Jeralene Staska, also of Owatonna; his wife Wanda Staska of Austin, MN; his daughters Brooke Goligowski of Austin, MN, Kaitlyn Goligowski of Austin, MN, Madison Staska of Austin, MN; brothers Bradley (Jodi) Staska of Owatonna, MN, David (Jaime) Staska of Lake Elmo, MN; sister Connie (Craig) Minowa of Viroqua, WI; father-in-law and mother-in-law Eddie and Doris Quinn of Albert Lea, MN; brother-in-law David (Sue) Quinn of Inver Grove Heights, MN; sisters-in-law Sandy (Randy) Tomschin of Alden, MN, Barb (Paul) Deckard of Reedsburg, WI; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium, with Pastor David Sobek officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3 at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin, and for one hour prior to the service at Knowlton Auditorium on Saturday. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Brian’s family. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.
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Riverland fire training instructor, firefighter dies; Brian Staska was a long-time instructor
By the Austin Daily Herald
Published 9:05 am Monday, October 30, 2017
Brian Staska, who for 30 years trained and helped others fight deadly fires, lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
Staska, of Austin, was only 53 years old, but he did much in those years.
He was credited with having developed one of the best fire science training programs in the country. He served departments in Owatonna and Stewartville and, in recent years, he served on both the Austin and Brownsdale fire departments.
For 18 years, he was the Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College.
“He was a master of his trade,” said Brownsdale Fire Chief David Pike. “His passion was the fire service, working to make our firefighters safer and more efficient.”
He added that Staska’s instruction was felt throughout a good portion of Minnesota, and in Iowa, as well.
Brian Staska hugs Deb Roed Saturday at the Mower County Fairgrounds near the start of “Putting the Axe on Cancer” a benefit for Staska last year. Herald file photo
Pike said Staska was able to continue his service to Brownsdale until about three months ago when his illness prevented him from participating any longer.
“It was sad; he wanted to contribute for as long as he could,” Pike said. “He stayed with it as long as he was able.”
In 2017, Staska was honored with a lifetime achievement award from The Minnesota Council for Continuing Education and Customized Training. Those who nominated him said at the time he was “always looking for new techniques and technologies that keep firefighters safe and allow for better rescue operations for saving civilian lives.
“His passion for his work is exemplified by his constant striving to keep current in his industry and the continuous improvements he makes to his programming.”
A measure of the regard held by his friends and the firefighting community was witnessed last year during a benefit that drew over 1,000 to the Mower County Fairgrounds.
Among his survivors is his wife, Wanda, and their three children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium.
Print Article
Brian George Staska, age 53, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
He was born January 26, 1964 in Owatonna, Minnesota, the son of George and Jeralene (Stavenau) Staska. He attended Owatonna High School, graduating in 1982. In 1986 he joined the Owatonna Fire Department. During his 12 years there he became one of the youngest to be promoted to Captain and was urged to become a trainer/instructor. Brian served a year in Stewartville and then spent 18 years as a Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College. He continued his firefighting career with the Brownsdale and Austin Fire Departments. During his career at Riverland he worked with Wanda Quinn Goligowski who became his wife on February 18, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They spent their entire marriage working side by side. Together the couple raised three daughters. Brian treasured the time spent with his family. It brought him great joy to watch the girls participate in sports. His work training and instructing for the Fire Department was very fulfilling for him. Brian will be dearly missed by family, friends, and co-workers.
Survivors include his parents George (Vonnie) Staska of Owatonna, Jeralene Staska, also of Owatonna; his wife Wanda Staska of Austin, MN; his daughters Brooke Goligowski of Austin, MN, Kaitlyn Goligowski of Austin, MN, Madison Staska of Austin, MN; brothers Bradley (Jodi) Staska of Owatonna, MN, David (Jaime) Staska of Lake Elmo, MN; sister Connie (Craig) Minowa of Viroqua, WI; father-in-law and mother-in-law Eddie and Doris Quinn of Albert Lea, MN; brother-in-law David (Sue) Quinn of Inver Grove Heights, MN; sisters-in-law Sandy (Randy) Tomschin of Alden, MN, Barb (Paul) Deckard of Reedsburg, WI; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium, with Pastor David Sobek officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3 at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin, and for one hour prior to the service at Knowlton Auditorium on Saturday. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Brian’s family. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.
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Riverland fire training instructor, firefighter dies; Brian Staska was a long-time instructor
By the Austin Daily Herald
Published 9:05 am Monday, October 30, 2017
Brian Staska, who for 30 years trained and helped others fight deadly fires, lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
Staska, of Austin, was only 53 years old, but he did much in those years.
He was credited with having developed one of the best fire science training programs in the country. He served departments in Owatonna and Stewartville and, in recent years, he served on both the Austin and Brownsdale fire departments.
For 18 years, he was the Fire Training Program Manager at Riverland Community College.
“He was a master of his trade,” said Brownsdale Fire Chief David Pike. “His passion was the fire service, working to make our firefighters safer and more efficient.”
He added that Staska’s instruction was felt throughout a good portion of Minnesota, and in Iowa, as well.
Brian Staska hugs Deb Roed Saturday at the Mower County Fairgrounds near the start of “Putting the Axe on Cancer” a benefit for Staska last year. Herald file photo
Pike said Staska was able to continue his service to Brownsdale until about three months ago when his illness prevented him from participating any longer.
“It was sad; he wanted to contribute for as long as he could,” Pike said. “He stayed with it as long as he was able.”
In 2017, Staska was honored with a lifetime achievement award from The Minnesota Council for Continuing Education and Customized Training. Those who nominated him said at the time he was “always looking for new techniques and technologies that keep firefighters safe and allow for better rescue operations for saving civilian lives.
“His passion for his work is exemplified by his constant striving to keep current in his industry and the continuous improvements he makes to his programming.”
A measure of the regard held by his friends and the firefighting community was witnessed last year during a benefit that drew over 1,000 to the Mower County Fairgrounds.
Among his survivors is his wife, Wanda, and their three children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium.
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