Stanley Nels Sogsti
March 11, 1948 - March 15, 2026
OBITUARY
Stanley Nels Sogsti, 78, of Lodi, California, peacefully passed away on March 15, 2026, with his family by his side.
Stan truly said “yes” to life and was one of the most positive people you could ever meet. He was born on March 11, 1948, to Margo and Nels. After graduating from Lawndale High School in 1966, Stan began his career with Allstate at the age of 20.
In 1976, he met the love of his life, Joanne Light, and they were soon married. Together they created a family of five girls, two from Stan (Cherie and Michelle) and three from Joanne (Melanie, Stephanie, and Julie.) They built a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure. September 17, 2026, would have marked their 50th wedding anniversary.
Over the years, Stan wore many hats—starting as an Allstate adjuster and eventually rising to sales manager through numerous promotions and relocations. A five-time Key Manager Award winner, Stan ranked among the top 15% of sales managers in the United States. His success allowed him and Joanne to travel to destinations such as Hawaii, Florida, Palm Springs, Bermuda, and Mexico.
A dedicated and hardworking man, Stan pursued his real estate license while working full-time and raising a family, becoming a part-time realtor with Century 21. At age 40, he took on another challenge—returning to school while working 50 hours a week. In June 1989, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco.
Stan retired from Allstate in March 2003, achieving his goal of retiring early “while all his body parts still worked.” From 2003 to 2007, he and Joanne traveled across all 50 states in their 35.5-foot Teton fifth-wheel RV—a journey of a lifetime.
In retirement, Stan embraced his passions: RV camping, photography, stained glass art, motorcycle riding, and travel. Together, he and Joanne explored all 50 states and 16 countries.
Never one to slow down, Stan returned to work in a variety of roles. He served as a CPR instructor with the American Red Cross, proudly teaching life-saving skills to doctors, nurses, EMTs, and paramedics. He later worked as a field operations officer for the U.S. Census Bureau, overseeing 144 employees, and as a bailiff in the San Joaquin County Civil Court. He also worked for the City of Stockton supervising parking attendants across 19 locations.
From 2018 to 2023, Stan drove for Uber and Lyft, completing over 14,000 rides and maintaining a 5-star rating. He cherished the opportunity to connect with people and often said he never had a bad ride—always learning something from every passenger.
Stan had a deep love for law enforcement and dedicated 27 years as a volunteer lieutenant with the Lodi Police Department. He played a key role in developing the Partners Driver Certification Course, delivered numerous training lectures, and served as a lead instructor for the Partners Academy. Over his service, he logged more than 11,000 hours and received numerous honors, including Volunteer of the Year and two Meritorious Service Medals.
A natural leader and connector, Stan helped grow the Code 5 RV group from just four couples to 62 rigs. True to their spirit, the group avoided formalities—no meetings, dues, or boards—just monthly outings and a shared motto: “No use is abuse.”
Stan was a dedicated and active member of the Golden Anchor Boat Club, where he served in numerous leadership roles over the years, ultimately holding the club’s highest honor as Commodore. The Delta held a special place in his heart, offering the peaceful waters and relaxed atmosphere he treasured most.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents, Margo and Nels, and his daughter Melanie, who passed away from a brain aneurysm in 2020.
He is survived by his beloved wife Joanne; his children Stephanie, Cherie (Greg), Julie, Michelle (Mac); and a large, loving family he was immensely proud of. His twelve grandchildren include Trever (Trista), Chelsea (Kyle), Nicholas, Akhie, Sophie, Samantha, Grace, Stella, Ellie, Tanner, Chloe and Kylie. He is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Cadence, Brilee, Kenton, Bennett, Keaton, Leila, Lennox, Ellie, Harlee and Mac. He is further survived by his brother Steve, niece Stephanie (Chris) and their daughter Charlotte, and nephew Steve (Rebecca) and their children, Kaden and Annika.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to organizations Stan deeply cared about, including the Lodi Partners Program and his Diabetic Support Group.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Sogsti family.
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