John Stencel III

John Stencel III of Brighton, Colorado, died peacefully on March 19th, 2025. John was born on March 21, 1942 on a farm east of Greeley to John Stencel Jr. and Marie Whittman Stencel. He was a graduate of Greeley High School and Colorado State University. He was also a Vietnam Veteran having served two years in the U.S. Army.
John was President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union for 28 years serving farmers and ranchers in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. While President, John served on numerous boards and commissions - as many as 13 at a time at one point. He served as Secretary of National Farmers Union and was on the NFU Insurance Boards as well. John was appointed to the State Board of Agriculture, the Governing Body for CSU, USC and Ft. Lewis. He was President of the Board in 1985 and 1986. In 1993 John was appointed State Executive Director of the Colorado Farm Service Agency and then took an appointment as Deputy Administrator of the Farm Service Agency in Washington, D.C. at the USDA. He also served as an Interim Deputy Administrator of the Packers and Stockyards Administration for a short term.
John was a lifelong democrat serving as Precinct and HD coordinator. His progressive views on rural waters were well known at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. During the wide swings in the Ag economy, John became known as a "Persistent Progressive", always looking for ways to better the lives of farmers and ranchers and those in the rural community.
John was inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2007, an honor that he was extremely proud of.
John was born into a Luthern German-Russian Family. He was very active in church activities, serving on committees and church councils. Along with several colleagues, John organized and helped found the International Center for German-Russian Studies at CSU. He served as treasurer of the International Foundation of the AHSGR for several years as well.
John loved his family, always encouraging everyone to do their best. He is survived by his loving wife and partner Marian, of 62 years, two children, Matthew John and his wife Denise and Amy Leann and her husband Kevin Roberts; five grandchildren, Brooke and Mason Stencel and Cody, Cassandra and Caitlyn Roberts. John is also survived by his sister Joyce Skurich and brother--in-law Micheal Skurich. John was preceded in death by his parents John and Marie, brother Jene and sister-in-law Sue, and siblings Patricia, Geraldine, and Deane Allen.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in John's memory to the following causes that were dear to John's heart:
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Educational and Charitable Foundation for Youth Scholarships - 7900 E. Union Avenue #200, Denver, CO 80237
Or online at https://rmfu.org/support/
Nativity Lutheran Church - 12500 E. 104th Ave, Commerce City, CO 80022
The CSU Foundation for the Scholarship Fund for "First Generation" students -
300 University Services Center, Fort Collins, CO 80523
https://give.colostate.edu/campaigns/44976/donations/new
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of John Stencel III, please visit our floral store.