Marlo Stensland

Larchwood, Iowa

     Marlo Stensland age 95, of Larchwood, IA, passed away peacefully, Monday, February 20, 2023, at his home surrounded by family.

     Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 27, 2023, at the United Church of Christ Church in Larchwood, IA, with Rev. Tim Voigt officiating.  Burial will follow at Larchwood Cemetery with full military honors.

     Visitation will be Sunday, February 26, 2023, from 3:00 – 5:00 PM, with family present at the United Church of Christ Church in Larchwood, IA.

Marlo Clarence Stensland was born on December 21, 1927 on the family farm near Larchwood, IA (Klondike) to Tobias and Inga (Ugland) Stensland. As one of Tobias’ and Inga’s ten children, Marlo attended country school, worked on the family farm, and volunteered for the US Navy at age 18. He served in Tsingtao, China as a base guard from 1946-1947.

On November 7, 1948, Marlo married Mildred (Gildemeister) Stensland. Marlo and Mildred were steadfast companions to one another through all 74 years of their marriage. After farming for the first few years of their married lives, Marlo and Mildred moved to Sioux Falls, SD to continue raising their three daughters: Barb, Nancy, and Elaine. While living in Sioux Falls, Marlo worked as a truck driver for Hyman Freightway for over 20 years. 

After retiring, Marlo and Mildred moved to Larchwood, IA. During his years in Larchwood, Marlo enjoyed meeting friends for morning coffee at the local gas station. Each afternoon, he would take a drive around the town, making sure to stop and visit with whomever he saw out and about. He became a skilled woodworker and spent many hours in his woodshed with family and friends creating projects for local businesses, churches, and individuals. A young child at Marlo’s local church, the Larchwood United Church of Christ, once said that Marlo, “lives in the shed and sometimes goes up to see Mickey in the house.”

Marlo was also a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He was very proud of his grandchildren and would talk about them to anyone who would listen. He enjoyed making his great-grandchildren laugh by telling them silly jokes and teaching them unique Norwegian phrases, just as he did with his grandchildren when they were young. He and Mildred made sure their home was a place that all their family always felt welcome and loved. 

Marlo is survived by his wife Mildred; daughters Barb (Jerry) Maurer, Nancy (Don) Eiesland, and Elaine Snyders, all of Larchwood; brother Art (Rosie) Stensland, and sister-in-law Helen Van Liere; 8 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tobias and Inga Stensland; brothers Joel (Mary) Stensland, Orville (Lois) Stensland, Edsel (Gladys) Stensland, Melvin (Rosie) Stensland, and Tilman Stensland; sisters Gloria (Ervin) Hamann, Alice (Darrel) Hars, and Joyce (Kenny) Claussen; and sons-in-law Ralph VanDenHul and David Snyders. 

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Marlo Stensland, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.