Richard Stetzel

Richard D. Stetzel was born to Lewis and Mabel Welty Stetzel on July 18, 1925 in Dickinson County, Iowa. On August 3, 1949, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Christoffer in Spirit Lake, Iowa. They lived in a small house on a farm near Spirit Lake and later moved to a larger farm site on the east side of Big Spirit. In 1974, they moved into town and bought a house on Hill Avenue. They moved to their present home in 1989. Richard was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Spirit Lake and the Museum Board. He was well-known for his story telling, love of books, and as a bus driver in the school district for 47 years. Richard enjoyed traveling and playing cards with his family. Richard passed away on June 13, 2012, at the Lakes Regional Health Care facility. Surviving are his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Debra and husband Gene Pavelko of Detroit Lakes, MN; Becky and husband Allan Baker of Waterville, MN; sons, Richard and wife Luz Stetzel of Dallas, TX and Tim and wife Laura Lorenzen of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren: Stacey Larson, Kelli Keefe, Nathan Pavelko, Jacob Baker, Amalie LeMieux, Nicole Stetzel, Giselle Stetzel and Molly Lorenzen; Great-grandchildren: Nicholas, Cole, and Ella Larson; Camilla Keefe, Brant and Griffin LeMieux; Kaden Baker. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Vernon; sister Thelma and an infant sister.