Stanley Elden Kant, age 74, passed away from natural causes last week at his home.
Stan was born in Freeport, Illinois to Elden and Maxine Kant and raised on their Wisconsin family farm near Warren, Illinois. Blessed with a brilliant mind and a natural athletic ability, he attended and graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1968 with a Bachelor’s degree in the Physical Sciences. He lettered 7 times in college and his collegiate track records in the 4x100 meter and 4x200 meter relay still stand 53 years later.
Stan was a graduate student at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee and received a Master of Arts degree in Psychology in 1972. Between undergrad and graduate school, he served in Vietnam in the United States Army as a chaplain’s assistant. Although largely quiet about his experiences in the war, the physical injuries he sustained would affect him the rest of his life.
Stan loved helping children overcome their learning disabilities to achieve their maximum potential and in this mission he succeeded. Stan owned and operated Kant and Associates, a private tutoring business where he worked with his late wife, Terri Kant, for many years. He was a gifted child psychologist for 50+ years and touched so many young lives during his years in the profession.
Stan loved to travel and learn about other cultures. He often shared fond memories of his many trips to South America, central America, Australia, Europe and elsewhere. He particularly loved Saint-Martin and its surrounding islands and traveled there on multiple occasions with his family. Despite enjoying traveling the world, one of Stan’s favorite places was the Outer Banks of North Carolina and it was his vision that brings his family there to this day. He loved walking on the beach in Nags Head or Waves collecting shells and enjoying the coastal cuisine. He spent many a cold, windy Thanksgiving there with his family and braved a few nor’easters in the process. Stan was also a lover of music. Even when not on vacation, the sounds of Caribbean and Zydeco music could be heard coming from his speakers. A hobby stockbroker, Stan spent a lot of time studying and investing in the stock market as well.
Stan also loved his family. He is preceded in death by his wife Terri Kant (née Beddingfield), his brother-in-law Ricky “Rick” Leverton, and his parents Elden Kant and Maxine Kant (née Flannery).
He is survived by his sister, Cathy Leverton of Bloomington, Illinois; nephew, Justin Leverton of Indianapolis, Indiana and his daughter Mia; stepdaughter, Allison Jessup Maltese of Charleston, South Carolina and her husband Thomas; and many treasured friends and former colleagues and clients.
Stan was an incredibly generous person. He donated regularly to several charities and gave much of his time to others in his career. He had a tremendous influence on raising Justin and Allison—teaching them life skills too numerous to list including the value of hard work, educational attainment, critical thinking, compromise, experiencing new cultures and cuisines, successful investing, and saving for the future. He will be remembered by many for his big heart, big hugs, and the inevitable “dad” jokes he loved telling.
The family will receive friends at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 12pm. We ask that you respect CDC guidelines relating to COVID-19 if you attend.
All are welcome to join us immediately thereafter at Stan’s favorite restaurant, The Bull & Bear, 5442 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina, to celebrate his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to one of Stan’s favorite charities, the Nature Conservancy, or we ask that you help to support a small business that did so much for Stan over the years by having breakfast or lunch at The Bull & Bear in his memory.
