Nathan David Stanton, beloved husband, father, son, encourager and friend, died on Saturday, March 12th, 2022 at the age of 52 in his home in Salina, Kansas at the end of a brave two year battle with ALS.

Nathan was born on July 15, 1969, in Salina, Kansas, the son of Marshall P. Stanton and Janice (Duryee) Stanton, having childhood homes in Salina, Colby and Hutchinson before graduating from Salina Central High School in 1987, Kansas Wesleyan University (BA) in 1991, St. Paul School of Theology (M. Divinity) in 1996, and Kansas State University (MA, Theater) in 1999.

On December 17, 1994, Nathan married Brenda (Meyers) in her hometown of Kiowa, Kansas. Their 27 years of marriage took them on adventures in the early years from pursuing their masters degrees together as poor graduate students, to acting as resident directors for KWU while Nathan worked as a drug and alcohol prevention coordinator at Central Kansas Foundation and then into their lifelong ministry in the United Methodist Church. Nathan’s first appointment was at St. Mark’s UMC in Wichita in 1999. From there, they went on to minister at Plains-Kismet, Anthony, and Wichita Pleasant Valley UMCs. After 14 faithful years serving in local parishes, Nathan was honored to be appointed to the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church as New Church Development Coordinator and in 2017, to his final professional title and one of his greatest joys, as Director of Congregational Excellence.

In Nathan’s four years as coordinator for new church development, 13 new congregations were formed, a majority of which were predominantly Black, Hispanic and African congregations. He introduced Planter Incubator and Crucible programs for growing new churches, and he developed the 20 By 2020 plan to grow congregations in the Great Plains.

Nathan experienced so much joy during his brief 52 years of earthly life. Some of the greatest were experienced on the sidelines of ballgames, watching his boys play ball or wrestling. After his own football and wrestling experiences in high school and college, this was his pride as a father. His face lit up whenever one of his boys walked into a room. Nathan and Brenda shared a love of theatre and literature. So much time was spent enjoying movies and quietly reading together over a big cup of coffee.

Most of all, Nathan was loved. He was a friend to so many, always ready with a laugh and a word of encouragement. He was a leader, a mentor and had the ability to fill up a room with his silent, thoughtful strength. The twinkle in his eye, the dimple in his cheek and that contagious laugh would make you feel like the most important person in his world.

He was survived by his wife Brenda and three sons, Noah, Isaac and Eli, his parents, Marshall and Janice, and two siblings, Eric (Judy) and Kirsten (Raleigh). He had nephews, Jordan, Gabriel, Aaron and Henry, and nieces, Mary Rachael, Shelby, Alison, Olivia, McKenna, Madison and Evelyn.

Funeral services will be at 2:00pm on Friday, March 18, 2022 in Sam’s Chapel at Kansas Wesleyan University and will be live streamed at https://youtu.be/Bgs35PsWSpA. Visitation will be made available immediately prior to the service, beginning at 1:00pm. A private graveside service will take place at a future date.

Memorials can be made to the Nathan Stanton Memorial Fund or to Kansas Wesleyan University, care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.