The father-son team of Rod and Thad Stanley are shown in the Menlo Cemetery with two of the stones they recently restored.
Stanley Stoneworks grew out of a shared passion between father and son, Rod and Thad Stanley.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Most people know Thad Stanley as the Panorama Community Schools 6-12 principal, a position he has held for more than 10 years. Now, he is also part of a family business restoring headstones in cemeteries.
The base of this headstone at the Menlo Cemetery needed to be dug out and the entire monument raised, cleaned, leveled and reset.
Stanley Stoneworks grew out of a shared passion between Thad and his father, Rod Stanley, who lives in Panora.
Rod was a schoolteacher for 35 years, including his final 17 years at Panorama. His teaching career started with 6-12 social studies and history. He also coached and served as activities director before retiring 20 years ago.
Originally from Dexter, Rod Stanley says walking through the Dexter Cemetery sparked his interest in restoring headstones.
“There were so many headstones that needed work,” Stanley says. “About eight years ago, I attended a couple of workshops. I made a list of about 70 headstones, then told the Dexter City Council I would volunteer to do the restoration work if the city could pay for materials. That’s how this all got started.”
Years of weather exposure, freeze-thaw cycles, shifting soil and natural settling cause monuments to lean, sink, crack or become difficult to read. Monuments dating from the late 1800s through the early 1900s are especially vulnerable because of their age and the materials commonly used.
“Dad developed a passion for cemetery restoration through his appreciation of local history and a desire to preserve it,” Thad says. “He spent years researching proper restoration methods, studying industry best practices and gaining hands-on experience.
This headstone at the Menlo Cemetery had fallen backwards and was almost completely buried. It had to be dug out, cleaned and reset.
“He introduced me to the work of cleaning, resetting and restoring headstones,” Thad says. “As we spent more time working together, we realized there was a significant need for professional monument restoration throughout Iowa, especially in smaller communities where cemeteries often have limited resources.”
In March 2026, Thad Stanley officially established Stanley Stoneworks as a family business dedicated to preserving monuments, honoring loved ones and helping protect local history for future generations.
“Our services include cleaning headstones using products specifically designed for historic stone, leveling and resetting monuments that have shifted over time, repairing damaged monuments when possible, restoring inscriptions, and preserving memorials so families can continue to honor loved ones for generations,” he says.
Stanley grew up in central Iowa and graduated from Panorama High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Central College and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska.
“Education has always been my passion,” he says. “Now Stanley Stoneworks has given me another meaningful way to serve families and communities outside of my work in schools.”
Thad and his wife, Andrea, live at Lake Panorama and have three children: Cruz, Aria and Gabe.
“One of the neat things about Stanley Stoneworks is that it has truly become a family business. Our oldest son, Cruz, also helps with restoration projects when he’s available,” Thad says.
Rod and Thad Stanley haven’t had to look far to find customers. They have completed restoration work in several cemeteries throughout central Iowa, including West Lynn Cemetery near Redfield, Guthrie Center, Panora, Lacona, Stuart, Earlham, Menlo and other communities.
“Many of our customers are families who want to restore the monument of a loved one,” Thad says. “We also work with cemetery associations, township trustees, churches, cities and cemetery managers who hire us to restore multiple monuments or entire cemeteries.”
Thad says monument restoration requires specialized equipment most people have never seen.
“We use a tombstone jack, which is designed to safely lift and reset heavy monuments,” he says. “We built our own heavy-duty tripod for lifting larger monuments, along with a custom-fabricated steel lifting bar we nicknamed Big Boy. It’s built to safely lift and move some of the heaviest monuments we encounter while minimizing stress on the stone.”
In addition to their lifting equipment, the duo use leveling tools, compacting equipment, monument repair materials, nonionic cleaners specifically designed for historic stone, soft natural-bristle brushes, safety equipment and a variety of specialized hand tools.
Thad Stanley says spring through fall is the best time for monument restoration.
“Moderate temperatures allow cleaning products to work properly, and the ground conditions are much better for leveling and resetting monuments. Since I’m a full-time principal, much of my work takes place during evenings, weekends, school breaks and throughout the summer,” he says. “Dad is retired and able to work on projects during the week.”
Thad says the response to Stanley Stoneworks has been humbling.
“In just our first season, we’ve been trusted to restore monuments in multiple cemeteries and for many individual families. We’re already scheduling cemetery projects for next summer. It’s exciting to see how much people value preserving the memories of their loved ones.
“For us, this business is about much more than restoring stone. Every monument represents a person’s life and a family’s story,” Thad says. “We hope every monument we restore reflects the respect, craftsmanship and care those individuals and their families deserve.”
Because every monument is different, pricing depends on its size and the work involved.
“We provide free estimates so customers know exactly what to expect before any work begins, Thad says. “We’re always happy to answer questions, provide free estimates or meet with families and cemetery boards to discuss restoration projects.”
Stanley Stoneworks has a Facebook page with photos of before-and-after headstone restorations. For more information, call 308-380-9983 or email thadstanley0621@gmail.com.
Rod and Thad Stanley dug this monument out of the ground at the Menlo Cemetery. Several steps were needed to get it reset, including filling the hole with rock to elevate it to its original height, then leveling the monument by adding more rock to one side. Cleaning the front of the headstone with a special solution completed this project.
