Wanda A Stenzel Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Wanda Stenzel PRINCETON — Wanda Ann Stenzel, 84, of Princeton, IL passed away April 9, 2016, at Perry Memorial Hospital. She was born April 16, 1931, in Moline to Gladys N. Peterson and Morris C. Nelson. Wanda was born and raised in Rock Island and later Chicago, graduating from Taft High School and North Park Junior College. She married Carl R. Stenzel and moved to Princeton where they lived and worked on the family farm south of Princeton and another farm they owned and farmed south of Wyanet, raising their four children until their divorce in 1977. In addition to helping on the farm, Wanda was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton as a choir director, organist (starting in 1966) and also played the organ at the Hampshire Colony UCC, St. Louis Catholic Church and the Evangelical Covenant Church. She recently retired from organist duties at First Presbyterian Church in 2015. She also taught piano lessons to more than 250 local adult and children students over the past 45-plus years. She was the organist at Norberg Memorial Home for several years and was the accompanist for the Bureau County Chorus, including performances of The Messiah and other classical works. She was the accompanist for the Homestead Festival plays since the inception of the musicals, playing for all but two performances until her retirement in 2001. She was the organist for several local weddings over the years. Her other interests included sewing clothes for her family and herself, including teaching many sewing classes through Home Extension. She also became an active and talented quilter, where she was a charter member and co-coordinator for the Covered Bridge Quilt Guild, teaching many classes there, chairing two of their quilt shows and winning several awards in local and state competitions. She was a charter member and past president of the Princeton Junior Women's Club and past president of the Princeton Evening Women's Club. She was also an active parent and leader in the local Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs and past secretary for The West Point Parents' Club of Illinois. She is survived by four children, Carol Lee Hixson of Adrian, Mich., Gary Lynn (Chris) Stenzel of Tampa, Fla., Scott Charles Stenzel of Sarasota, Fla., and Valerie Ann (Gregory) Woods of Orlando, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Bryce E. Hixson, Brett E. Hixson, Kirstyn N. Hixson, Bryan E. Hixson, Jennifer M. Stenzel, Grayson C. Stenzel, Austin G. Stenzel, Shelby A. Woods and Haley A. Woods; one brother, Cecil (Roberta) M. Nelson of Knoxville, Tenn.; and eight nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Naomi J. Boynton; and one son-in-law, Bruce Hixson. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at the First Presbyterian Church in Princeton. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Princeton, IL. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to The First Presbyterian Church in the name of Wanda Stenzel. Online condolences may be left at www.norbergfh.com

Wanda A Stenzel

April 16, 1931 - April 9, 2016