Mildred Clark Stengel

Mildred Clark Stengel, 100, passed away peacefully on Dec. 23, 2024, at Cottage Care Circle in Mauston, Wisconsin. Born on April 17, 1924, in Spencer, Millie graduated from Spencer High School in 1941 and spent a year working in Washington, D.C., at the Pentagon. She married Bruce Haight from Waterloo after World War II to start a life moving coast to coast multiple times while raising three daughters and being a “Rocket Wife.” She lived in New Jersey; Downey and Los Alamitos, California; Cocoa Beach and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, while her husband worked developing the missile program and eventually launching Apollo to the moon.

Millie moved back to Spencer in 1987, becoming involved in community social groups, and to Mauston in 2001, where a few years later she met and married Kenneth Stengel, of Mauston.

Millie loved retail therapy, anything pink, dark chocolate and books. Her love of reading and chocolate are passed on to her daughters, Janet Lange (Fred), of Melbourne, Florida; Jo Haight Sarling, of Cocoa Beach, Florida; and Christi Williams (Sam) of Elroy, Wisconsin; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Her passing marks the end of a life of tremendous change but she leaves behind our lives rich in memories of her quirky sense of humor, her laugh and her mischief.

The Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.