Marie Stenzel

Marie Stenzel, 93, of Elizabeth, Illinois, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, March 12, 2011. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 19th at 10am at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, Illinois, with Reverend Harvey Nicholson officiating. Burial will be in the Elizabeth Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held Friday, March 18th from 3 to 7pm at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Elizabeth, with a brief prayer service at 7:00 pm. Memorials may be given in Marie’s name to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Elizabeth or to a charity of your choice.
Marie was born September 18, 1917 in Chicago, the daughter of John James and Anna (Petrik) Stupka. She graduated from Lindblom High School, Chicago, Illinois in 1935. On June 1, 1946, Marie married William John “Bill” Stenzel in Chicago. Bill passed away January 8, 2009. Church and family were the foundation for Marie’s and Bill’s long, rich, happy lives together. They were active in the Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout their years in Chicago. Marie served as church organist and choir director for nearly 26 years. Marie and Bill retired to Elizabeth in 1981 and joined St. Paul Lutheran Church where she continued her service to the Lord as an active member of the Ladies Guild, Quilters, choir member and organist. She also volunteered at the Elizabeth Food Pantry and was a 25-year member of Home Extension. While at Assisted Living in Elizabeth, she played the piano on Sunday evenings for the enjoyment of all. Marie will be remembered by her friends and family for her kindness, thoughtfulness, concern for others and her devout faith. She always remembered them in her prayers and with cards and notes. Marie is survived and will be dearly missed by two daughters, Gloria (Fred) Gleave of Evanston, Illinois and Anita (Larry) Hanson of Elizabeth; a son, William (Wendy) Stenzel, Jr. of Cupertino, California; four grandchildren, Jon Hanson (Allison Stevens) of Ankeny, Iowa, Tamara Hanson of Dubuque, Iowa, Julia Stenzel of Cupertino and Daniel Stenzel of Cupertino; three great grandchildren, Nicholas Hanson, Jenna Hanson, Tanner Wienen, and many nieces and nephews. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; her sister, Cecelia Cleven and three brothers, Albert, John, and Joseph.