Worcester – John D. Stoebel Jr., of Worcester, died peacefully at Knollwood Nursing Center Wednesday, July 25, 2012 after a period of declining health. He was 89.
Born July 15, 1923 in Clinton, he was the first child of the late John and Margaret (Deren) Stoebel and was a graduate of Clinton High School, class of 1941. Like many others his age John enlisted in the United States Navy and honorably served his country during World War II aboard the U.S.S. Clarion River. Upon the conclusion and success of the war he returned to his native Clinton and worked at the Colonial Press, later at Plimpton Press and Spencer Press.
November 4, 1944, he married Corinne E. Schott in the former German Evangelical Congregational Church. They lived in Clinton, Lancaster, Westwood, and eventually moved to Dennisport on Cape Cod in 1994. They returned to Worcester in 2010 where they became residents of the Briarwood Community. John's family expresses thanks to the staffs of Briarwood, Knollwood and Notre Dame Hospice for their care and dedication to John over the last 2 years.
Throughout John's life, he devoted himself to his family, his friends, neighbors and his country. His passing is a great loss to all who experienced his gentle kindness and desire to help anyone in need. Skilled and talented with his hands, John was always with project: working with wood, painting, repairing, or doing a household chore. There wasn's a time any of his grandchildren didn’t go to their grandfather with something in need of repair because, universally, they all knew “Grampie could fix it.” He was so very much loved and will be missed.
John rejoins in Heaven his wife, Corinne, who died January 10, 2011; his daughter, Karen Reynolds; and their infant son, as well as his brother, William Stoebel.
He leaves his children, Ellen C. Power and her husband, Kevin, of Worcester, Sharon L. Spellman and her husband, Joseph, of Shrewsbury, John D. Stoebel III and his wife, Ruthanne, of Yarmouth, James D. Stoebel and his wife, Judith, of Gansevoort, New York, Jeffrey S. Stoebel and his wife, Kelly, of Norwood and Jay D. Stoebel and his wife, Eve, of Mattapoisett; his brother-in-law, George Schott and his wife, Helene, of Bolton; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember John's life Sunday, July 29, from 4 to 7 p.m., by gathering for calling hours in Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Monday morning in The United Church of Clinton, 109 Haskell Street, Clinton, where his funeral service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. The Rev. Lee Atherton will officiate. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Honor John's memory and love for his country with a contribution to Veteran's Inc., 69 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605.
