Dr. John M. Stencel

Obituary of Dr. John M. Stencel

Dr. John M. Stencel, 72, passed away suddenly after the onset of a non-COVID related illness on Monday, January 4, 2021. He was born on June 24, 1948 to the late Edward C. and Goldie Burmeister Stencel in Mankato, Minnesota (MN).

Growing up on the family farm as the youngest of eight children, John would recall farm life as filled with early mornings milking cows and tending to the fields and crops while keeping up with academics and sports at school. He grew to have a love for old machinery, antiques and cars. Among his earliest summer jobs were driving a milk truck for a local creamery, painting barns, working in construction with his eldest brother, working on a ranch in North Dakota, and selling Aristo Craft Cookware. In his youth, John was a high school football, baseball and basketball athlete, and he went on to play football, following in his other brother’s position as a defensive halfback at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, under famed football coach John Gagliardi. He obtained an undergraduate degree in physics (1970).

John moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1970, where he attended Vanderbilt University and obtained a PhD in Physics (1976) working on his research at both Fisk and Vanderbilt Universities. There, his extra curriculars included being a manager and strong supporter of the Graduate Student Pub, where he met and formed life-long friendships, the bonds of which strengthened over time through many of life’s adventures which included yearly get togethers.

Throughout his career, John was a scientific researcher, entrepreneur, professor and inventor. He was the author of 12 US and international patents, over 120 professional scientific manuscripts, and 200 technical presentations. His post-graduate career started with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, PA. After a few years, he moved on to the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Center for Applied Energy Research and KY DOE/EPSCoR Program where he had a 25-year career, during which time he helped secure many grants and contracts for UK’s faculty and research staff.

In 2000, John started his own business and became President of TriboFlow Separations. Over the years, he seemed to enjoy the independence and intellectual stimulation of running his own company, while also engaging in various other professional partnerships and interests, through which he formed many international relationships. He continued multiple affiliations with UK: as a member of the Industry Advisory Board, as a technical advisor of the Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD) in Mechanical Engineering, and as an academic advisor and mentor to graduate students and junior faculty. More recently, John expanded his business to include TriboFlow Acoustics. Also, he excelled at teaching and enjoyed interacting with his students as an adjunct professor of astronomy at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

Beyond his professional career, in his personal life John enjoyed a variety of hobbies. He liked exploring the rural country side of Central Kentucky on his motorcycle, tending to his garden, supporting the local farmer’s market, watching birds out his kitchen window, and watching classic movies. He was well known by his friends to be a great chef and enjoyed ballroom dancing. He is a former member of the 2nd Presbyterian Church in Lexington, where he sang in the choir. He was also a favorite friend of Mount Union Christian Church in Clinton County, KY, where he attended many services and sang in the choir. He was an adventurous traveler with his daughters, and provided his steadfast support and encouragement of their every endeavor.

He will be lovingly remembered by his daughters, Erin Stencel and Kara Stencel, both of D.C. and Amy Stencel, San Francisco. He is also survived by the mother of their children, Cindy Stencel, KY; his sisters, Jeanette (Warren Moreland) Ragusin, CA, Gloria (Bill) Hoppe, MN and Mary Kay Stencel, MN; his brothers, Gerald (Kathy) Stencel, MN and Joseph (Marsha) Stencel, NJ and his brother-in-law, Gene Gerdts, MN. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Ginger Gerdts and brother Edward F. Stencel, Jr.

Friends and professional acquaintances are invited to drop by to pay respects at an outdoor memorial in the back yard of Dr. Stencel’s former residence on Saturday, January 9, 2021 between 1-4 pm at 2324 Lilac Park in Lexington, KY 40509. Guests are respectfully asked to abide by COVID-19 protocols of mask wearing and physical distancing, and are encouraged to plan accordingly for brief visits and winter weather.

A mass will be said in his honor at St. Joseph’s parish in Waldorf, MN, where he was baptized, accepted First Communion, was Confirmed and served as an altar boy in his youth. Later in the year, a private memorial service will be organized in his hometown in Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dr. John M. Stencel’s honor to either of the following: National Park Foundation that supports the National Park Service (http://give.nationalparks.org/goto/DrJohnMStencel) or the Lexington Habitat for Humanity (www.lexhabitat.org).

Saturday
9
January

Outdoor Memorial

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Dr. Stencel's Residence
2324 Lilac Park
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
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