Obituary of Earle Stoeckel

Earle Herman Stoeckel, 90, of Crown passed away on Monday, March 31, 2008 at the Anoka Care Center. He was born July 2, 1917 in Stanford Township, Minnesota to William and Elma (Maihack) Stoeckel. Earle was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church of Crown and attended the Crown Country School. He went on and graduated from St. Francis High School and later attended the University of Minnesota. After his schooling he returned home and helped on the home farm for a few years. On October 3, 1945 he was united in marriage to Irene Hass at Zion Lutheran Church. They purchased the adjoining farm to his parents and it was there that they farmed and raised their three children. They raised Holsteins, pigs and chickens. In 1982 they sold their livestock and in 1987 began vegetable farming and sold their vegetables at several farmers' markets. Earle was a member of the Rum River Vegetable Grower's Association for over 20 years. Earle and Irene were Fire Warden's for over 23 years. Earle served on several boards over the years, he was a member of the Crown, Princeton and the 1st District Creamery Board, was on the Isanti County Co-op board for 20 years, the Soil and Water Conservation Board for 26 years, the Isanti ASCS Committee for 20 years, was the Stanford Town Clerk for 34 years, was a lifetime member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Crown, serving as elder and was the financial secretary for many years. Earle loved to fish and hunt and enjoyed playing baseball. He played baseball until the age of 63, hunted and fished until the age of 90. He enjoyed playing cards and horseshoes, and gardening, selling his produce until just last fall. Earle's specialty was his wonderful fish dinners. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Irene in 2003, infant son Lloyd, infant twin sisters Darlene and Kathleen Stoeckel, brothers Walter and Donald and sisters Beatrice and Marley Stoeckel. Earle is survived by two daughters Sandra and husband Govind Vatassery of St. Paul, Oriet and husband Joe Diamond of Crown, son Eugene and wife Kathy Stoeckel of Princeton, six grandchildren Heather and husband Jon Rose, Travis Gunderson, Matthew and wife Sasha Stoeckel, Jayan Vatassery, Nicole and husband Mike Johnson, Rajan Vatassery and wife Sunayana Mysore, four great grandchildren Meran, Gracyn, Josie and Breixo, brother Delton Stoeckel of Crown, as well as many other relatives and friends.