Obituary of Neil Stoeckel

Neil L. Stoeckel, 58 of Isanti, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN. Neil was born on October 31, 1949 in Princeton, MN, the youngest child of Raymond & Olga Stoeckel. He was raised on the family farm near Crown, MN, attending parochial school in Crown and later graduating from St. Francis High School. After graduating from St. Cloud State College in 1972, he began his teaching career in Richmond, Virginia. He was united in marriage to Marcy Hestbeck in 1973. In 1975, they returned to Minnesota and Neil began his 33 year career at St. Francis Junior High. Neil and Marcy moved into their home near Long Lake in the Isanti area in 1976 where they have lived for 32 years and raised their 2 children, Amanda and Scott. For the past 3 years, Neil had also been teaching driver's education for the Princeton and Chisago Lakes School Districts. Since Neil always liked to be busy, he started a trophy business which he had operated out of his home for about the last 30 years. Neil was a devoted father, being very involved in his children's various activities throughout their development. He was a 4-H leader for over 20 years, a firearms safety instructor, a Boy Scout Leader, soccer coach, baseball coach, basketball coach, a Sunday school teacher and a confirmation teacher. Neil was also active in his community, serving on the church council for both Faith Lutheran Church and Long Lake Lutheran Church. He especially enjoyed being involved in the Live Nativity at Long Lake Lutheran for a number of years. Neil was also proud to be a parade captain for the Isanti Rodeo Parade for many years as well as a Salvation Army Bell ringer at Christmas time. He enjoyed woodworking, restoring tractors, hunting and fishing when he could squeeze it into his busy schedule. Neil was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Olga Stoeckel, his sister Joanne Larson and nephews, Bradley Larson, Dennis Stoeckel and Gary Hynes. Neil is survived by his loving wife, Marcy, of Isanti; daughter, Amanda Stoeckel of Salt Lake City, Utah; son, Scott Stoeckel and his wife Nichole of Bismarck, North Dakota; sister, Jeanette Laverne of Minneapolis; brother, Sheldon Stoeckel of Fridley; brother, Dale (Nita) Stoeckel of Crown, as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.