Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Stencel, Burton 1981
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 10, 2012, 11:06 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Tuesday, August 18, 1981

Burton “Bud” Stencel, 49, secretary-manager of the Ionia Free Fair, Ionia 
County political figure, and agricultural and civic leader died Monday evening 
in Ionia County Memorial Hospital after an illness of several months.  
Stencel’s death ended a public career of 40 years, dating from his activities 
as a 4-H Club member, through activities in his church, in Ionia Lions Club, 
in the Ionia Free Fair, and as a Democratic political leader and office holder.

He succeeded Sheldon Crossman as secretary-manager of the Ionia Free Fair in 
1979, an office that he said at the time of selection had been the dream of a 
lifetime.  Early this year Stencel was named the state male “4-H Alumni of the 
Year for 1908.”  Nominated for the honor by the Ionia County 4-H Advisory 
Council, he competed with other nominees throughout the state and was honored 
at a presentation banquet Feb. 28.  The honor capped a 25-year career as 4-H 
Club leader, prior to which he had been a member for 11 years.  He also served 
in several county-wide 4-H offices.

He served two terms on the Ionia County Board of Commissioners and ran twice 
for state representative, losing in the primary in 1976, and to former state 
Rep. Stanley M. Powell of Ionia in 1978.  He was a former president of Ionia 
Lions Club and was recipient of the club’s “Lion of the Year” award.  He 
served as member of the Board of Review in Easton Township and was a member of 
Ionia County Road Commission at the time of his death.  His involvement with 
Ionia Free Fair dated to his 4-H Club years and he became the second 
superintendent of the Swine Department in the late 1950s.

Active in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Stencel served the congregation in 
various offices, and was an elder of the church at the time of his death.  He 
also served on the church’s board of finance and was vice chairman of the 
congregation.

Born July 14, 1932, in Orleans Township, he was the son of the late John 
Stencel and Crystal Hawn Stencel.  He attended Dildine rural school and 
graduated in 1950 from Ionia High School.  He attended short courses at 
Michigan State University and served in the U.S. Army for two years, 1953-
1955, and thereafter farmed the family farm on Bradford Road in Easton 
Township.
He was married to the former Carolyn Durbin on Dec. 7, 1968.

Surviving in addition to his wife, are one son, Michael, and three daughters, 
Mrs. Michael (Colleen) Wandell of Ionia, and Debra and Lisa Stencel, both at 
home.  Also surviving are his mother, six sisters and four brothers, Kathryn 
Stillman of San Diego, Calif., Ruth Hewitt of Fenwick, Joyce Dowdy of 
Littleton, Colo., Carolyn Huisjen of Fort Collins, Colo.; Marian Koelsch of 
Juneau, Alaska; Sue Ellen Senasack of Annapolis, Md.; James of Ionia; John 
(Jack) of Ionia; Gerald of Long Island; and Richard of Ft. Collins, Colo.

Services will be conducted from St. John’s Lutheran Church, 617 N. Jefferson 
St., Ionia, Thursday at 2 p.m., with former pastor the Rev. A. R. Gallert 
officiating.  Burial will be in Easton Cemetery.  The family will be at Myers-
Roetman Funeral Home Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. 
and 7 to 9 p.m.

Subsequent Publication:  Wednesday, August 19, 1981

Funeral services for Burton “Bud” Stencel, 49, who died Monday night in Ionia 
County Memorial Hospital will be Thursday at 2 p.m. from St. John’s Lutheran 
Church, 617 N. Jefferson St., Ionia.

Memorials have been established for St. John’s Lutheran Church and the 
American Cancer Society, in care of the Myers-Roetman Funeral Home.

The family will be at the funeral home today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.



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