Roger Stolley - March 17, 2025
It is with great sadness that we must announce that we have lost our wonderful friend and club member, Roger Stolley. Roger had briefly battled pancreatic cancer, and lost his battle earlier yesterday morning. He and his wonderful wife Maureen have been members for many years and were the chairpersons for the June Car Show for a few years.
Roger was well known for his love of muscle cars, especially Ford Mustangs. He restored and showed several classic Mustangs over the years and was an active member of Twin Cities Mustang clubs. Roger really enjoyed dealing in cars; highlighted successes include once “accidentally” buying a Mustang on eBay and being asked not to return to a dealership after driving a particularly hard bargain. His love of cars took him to the Woodward Dream Cruise, the Mecum Auto Auction, and several memorable car club cruises. He took pride in maintaining all of his vehicles with meticulous attention to detail.
Roger’s smile and sense of humor was infectious. He was always quick with a joke and was one of the first people to step up to help at an event when it was needed.
I hope there was a glass of Briannna waiting for him when he passed through those pearly gates. As Roger once so profoundly said, “that’s damn good shit”!!
Dirk Leroy Gasterland passed away on July 1, 2025, at age 81 at Bethany Riverside Nursing Home. He was born on July 6, 1943, in Richfield, MN. Dirk was a survivor of the Polio epidemic and graduated from Richfield High School. He then graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul where he studied economics.
Dirk’s career centered around banking, and he moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1986 to assume the position as President and CEO of Coulee Bank, where he worked until he retired. He was named Banker of the Year in 2002 by the Community Bankers of Wisconsin.
Dirk spent much of his adult life in service to his community. He joined the Minnesota National Guard and retired as a Colonel. He was later promoted to a Brevet General to honor his years of service. Dirk’s community involvement includes serving on the boards of the Riverland Girl Scouts, Gateway Boy Scouts, Family & Children’s Center, La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, La Crosse Rotary East, Great Rivers United Way, the UW- La Crosse Foundation, and many more.
He was an automobile enthusiast and collector with a particular love of Mustangs and 1934 Fords.
Many of you may not know him but he was one of the founding members of the Upper Midwest Region Shelby American Auto Club.
Bill Cochrane a long-time club member passed away on Friday, May 31st, 2024. Bill was the recipient of our Valor Quilt in 2022. He drove a gorgeous1966 Mustang GT 350 fastback. Bill has served in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. Bill received a bronze star and a purple heart. Bill has worked for the Ford Motor Co and retired in December 2001. Bill has volunteered his time at the DAV, the VFW in Garrison, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and has logged over 7000 hours at the VA Hospital.