Charles Albert Wilhelm "Karl" Stenzel was born onn 31 August 1875 in Germany coming to America with his parents in 1889. 

 

 

 

 

Charles and Hattie Thom Stenzel

Charles was married to  Hedwig Julianna "Hattie" Thom on 10 February 1903 at Zion Lutheran Church, Iva, Richland Township, Saginaw County, Michigan by Karl L. Mueller, Lutheran Minister.  Hattie was born 14 May 1881 in Ohio.  Her parents were William and Amelia Thom.  It states in the Zion Lutheran Church marriages records of 1903 that Karl and Hedwig Thom were married.

 

In 1896, Charles owned 40 acres of land in Richland Township on N. Steel Road just north of his fathers, Gustav's property,  which was on the corner of Dice and N. Steel Roads, both parcels were located in Richland Township.

 

By 1916, Charles sold his N. Steel property in Richland Township , and owned two separate 40 acres parcels of land on Dice Road, the crossroad was N. Steele Road in Jonesfield Township. His two parcels of property was almost across the road from each other in Section 1 and Section 12 of Jonesfield Township, Merrill, Saginaw County, Michigan. Charle's brother,  Herman lived across the road (east) on N. Steele and Dice Road Road (which was at one time Hermans dad's, Gustav's property, located in Richland Township).  Charles lived in Jonesfield Township and across the road on N. Steele Rd. was Richland Township where Herman lived.

Charles and Hattie Thom Stenzel's home on N. Merrill Road in Jonesfield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan

By 1920, Charles and Hattie owned and operated their farm in Section 1 and Section 12 of Jonesfield Township but also owned a home and property on 80 acres of land on N. Merrill Road in Section 2 of Jonesfield Township.  The picture of the home is illustrated.

 

Charles also served as Jonesfield Township Supervisor and helped build the Stenzel home and many others in his lifetime.

 

Charles died on 24 November 1937 at Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. Hattie died on 3 September 1952 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.  They are both buried in the Richland Lutheran Cemetery, Richland Township, Saginaw County, Mi.

Reinhold Stenzel

 

 

Reinhold Fred Stenzel was born 14 November 1905 in Jonesfield Township, Merrill, Michigan.  The same year, he was baptized at Iva, Zion Lutheran Church, Richland Township, Saginaw County, Michigan.  He was in Zion Lutheran Church's Confirmation Class of 1919.

Reinhold and Caroline Fehn Stenzel

 

Reinhold married Caroline Augusta Fehn on the 3 February 1929 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Richland Township, Hemlock, Saginaw County, Michigan by Emil Walther, a Lutheran Minister. Their witnesses were Martin Stenzel, Lily Neitzke, William Fehn and Emma Prenzler. Caroline's parents were August F. and Bertha L. Roggow Fehn.

 

Reinhold and Caroline had three daughters: 

 

Elenor Stenzel who married Wilbur McDonald;

Mildred "Millie" Stenzel who married Roger "Bud" Parker 

Darlene Marie Stenzel who married Clair Keel.

 

 

 

Reinhold died on 14 December 1975 and Caroline died on the 10 March 1980.  They are both buried in the Richland Lutheran Cemetery, Hemlock, Saginaw County, Michigan.

Michael Parker-Millie Stenzel Parker's son

Reinhold and Caroline's grandson, Michael (Mike) Bigelow Parker, and also, son of Bud and Millie Stenzel Parker was born on 9 April 1958 in Saginaw County, Michigan and died 2 June 2005 at his home after a year long battle with cancer, he was 47 years old. He is buried in the Richland Lutheran Cemetery, Hemlock, Saginaw County, Michigan.

 

Mike was a graduate of Merrill High School, Merrilll, Saginaw County, Michigan.  He was employed by Dow Chemical Company and was a member of Iva, Zion Lutheran Church, Hemlock, Michigan. Mike was an avid sports fan, enjoying Detroit Tiger Baseball, bowling and served as an ASA umpire in Midland, Michigan. He is survived by his parents, Bud and Millie Parker, and a daughter and two sons.

Darlene Marie Stenzel Keel

Darlene Marie Stenzel was born 28 February 1946 in Jonesfield Township, Merrill, Saginaw County, Michigan.  She was baptized in 1946 at Iva, Zion Lutheran Church, Hemlock, Saginaw County, Michigan.  She married Clair Keel on 20 February 1965 at Zion Lutheran Church.  Clair predeceased Darlene on 5 November 1986. Darlene died on 11 December 2021 at the age of 75 years.  Darlene's son, Jerald Keel, preceased her.  She is survived by a daughter, Ann and her family. Clair and Darlene are  buried in Laporte Cemetery, Laporte, Midland County, Michigan. 

 

Darlene farmed with her husband Clair and later retired from Dow Corning.  She was a member at Iva, Zion Lutheran Church and sang in their choir for many years and helped with the God's Helping Hands closet.  Darlene liked to craft, read, cook and spend time with her family and friends.  

Jerald Keel - Darlene Stenzel Keel's son

sources: Zion Lutheran Church Records, St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church Record (marriage record), find a grave, WWI and WWII draft, 1916 and 1920 Jonesfield Township and Richland Township Plat Map, obituaries,  pictures from Elenor Stenzel McDonald and Mildred Stenzel Parker.