James R. Stencel, age 83, of Minnesota Lake, died Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Minnesota Lake. The Rev. Thomas E. Cook will officiate. Visitation will be at the Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Minnesota Lake today, Feb. 9, from 4-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., and visitation one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Minnesota Lake. Military honors will be accorded by the Wells Color Guard.

He was born Nov. 28, 1919 in Minnesota Lake to Andrew and Martha (Evan) Stencel, and married Agnes Hawker on Oct. 9, 1939, in St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Mapleton.

Jim was born and raised in Minnesota Lake. He attended country school. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1945. Jim owned and operated Stencel Trucking until retirement in 1976, when his son Robert purchased the business. Jim enjoyed his many friends, his grandchildren, fishing and playing cards. Due to Parkinson’s he was a resident of Parkview Care Center for six years. Jim was also a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Minnesota Lake.

He is survived by one son, Robert and his wife Reta Stencel of Minnesota Lake; two daughters: Kay and her husband Luverne Rasmussen of Albert Lea, and Barbara and her husband George Sonnek of Minnesota Lake; 10 grandchildren: Rhonda Drager, Ron Stencel, Rob Stencel Jr., Luverne Rasmussen Jr., Dan Rasmussen, Kris Rasmussen, Ron Sonnek, Stacey Alberts, Ryan Sonnek, and Tyler Sonnek; 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers: George and his wife Mildred Stencel of Minnesota Lake, and Charles Stencel of Minnesota Lake; five sisters: Evelyn Latourelle of Mankato, Coletta Pitcher of Wells, Margaret and her husband Bill Dickhoff of Minnesota Lake, Charlette Kretchmer of Blue Earth, and Audrey and her husband Stan Healy of Mapleton; and numerous nieces and nephews.