Lake Mills native and Hall of Famer Mike Stensrud dies

Published 4:19 pm Sunday, August 25, 2024

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Former Lake Mills High School standout and Iowa State All-American Mike Stensrud died Friday at his home at the age of 68.

Mike Stensrud

Stensrud is considered one of the greatest defenders in Iowa State football history, helping the Cyclones earn bowl bids in 1977 (Peach Bowl) and 1978 (Hall of Fame Bowl), according to an announcement from the college.

He earned All-America and first-team All-Big Eight recognition as a senior at the college, recording 306 career tackles from his defensive line posts, according to the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame website.

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Stensrud topped the conference in sacks (15) in 1977 when ISU led the Big Eight in scoring defense and ranked second in rushing and total defense, the college stated.

He was a second-round NFL draft pick by the Houston Oilers and ultimately retired from the NFL in 1989, after which he eventually returned with his family to Lake Mills.

He worked for 18 years at Lake Mills Lumber with his brother-in-law and served on several boards and commissions, including the Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association board, which he still served at the time of his death. He also was a Winnebago County Board of Supervisors.

Stensrud was inducted into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.