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David Harold Stiel Jr.

David Stiel Obituary

Funeral services will be conducted for Mr. David Harold Stiel Jr. at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 805 First St., Franklin, with the Rev. Francis Daunt officiating. Visitation at the church on Monday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation resumes at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment in Franklin Cemetery. David Harold Stiel Jr., 83, a resident of Franklin, died on Friday, March 20, 2009. He was born in Huntington, Pa., on June 22, 1925. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia Palfrey Stiel. He has four children, Elizabeth Patterson Stiel McKee, David Harold "Hal" Stiel III and his wife, Tonya, and Donelson Palfrey Stiel Sr. and his wife, Tracey, all of Franklin, and Susan Palfrey Stiel Crosby and her husband, Harry James Crosby Sr., of Mandeville; grandchildren, Elizabeth "Beth" Palfrey McKee, Allison Todd Stiel, Sally Palfrey Stiel, Stacey Gates Stiel, Harry James Crosby Jr., Patricia Palfrey Crosby, Courtney Stiel Crosby, Margaret Linnette Crosby, Caroline Susan Stiel, Donelson Palfrey Stiel Jr. and Katelyn Murphy Stiel; great-grandchild, Aidan Rose Tyler; and two stepgrandchildren, Kennedi Walden and Kameron Walden. Stiel was preceded in death by his parents, David Harold Stiel and Nell Kahn Stiel, who were of Franklin; and a brother, Leon Kahn Stiel, who was of Baton Rouge. Pallbearers for the funeral will be Harry James Crosby Sr., Harry James Crosby Jr., Donelson Palfrey Stiel Jr., E.J. Champagne Jr., Dr. Thomas F. Kramer and Alfred S. Lippman. Honorary pallbearers are Thomas Spry, Gov. M.J. "Mike" Foster Jr., Judge Edward A. DelaHoussaye III, Isaac Theriot and Judge Robert M. Fleming. Special caregivers for Mr. Stiel were Sophia Willis, Gail Adams, Nadean Carr, Marvel Peltier, Rose Thomas, the Rev. Nelson Davis Jr., and A.J. "Hot Rod" Schahn. In 1956, Stiel founded the David H. Stiel Jr. Agency in Franklin. He served as president and CEO of one of Louisiana's largest independent insurance agency networks in South Louisiana, with other Stiel Agency locations in Metairie, Lafayette, Morgan City, Baldwin and Hammond. Since 1956, David Stiel Jr. was active, and an innovator, in the insurance industry. He served as a former past chairman of the CNA Insurance New Orleans Branch Pacer Group and the Reliance Insurance Pinnacle Club. He was a real estate broker in Franklin and headed one of the oldest real estate agencies in the Franklin area with David H. Stiel Real Estate and Baldwin Realty in Baldwin. During World War II he served on active duty in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Marine Corps. From 1943 to 1946 he served with the HQ and Service Battalion of the III Amphibious Corps in New Caledonia and Guadalcanal, and participated in the landings on Guam and Okinawa, and in the surrender of enemy forces in Northern China. Stiel had devoted a lifetime to community service in St. Mary Parish. As a former U.S. Marine he was an active participant in the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, where he served as founder and chairman of the Toys for Tots program in Franklin. Stiel served as a member of the Governor's Military Advisory Commission for the State of Louisiana. He was a board member of the Civilian Steering Committee of the Marine Support Group of New Orleans. He was founder of the Bayou Teche Detachment 751 of the Marine Corps League and served as its commandant. He was a member of the Military Order of Devil Dogs, the National Marine Corps League, the China Marine Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Stiel was honored as the recipient of the Marine Corps League Distinguished Service Award for Meritorious Service. In addition, he received the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Support of Toys for Tots. After the war, he attended LSU in Baton Rouge and returned to Franklin. Before founding his insurance business, he was employed at Cabot Corp. Canal Plant where he was in charge of hiring. He then worked at Commercial Bank and Trust Co. in Franklin before embarking on his insurance career. Stiel was a member of the St. Mary Parish Civil War Battleground Park Commission. He served as president of the St. Mary Parish Civil War Centennial Commission from 1961 to 1965. He served on the Civil War Centennial Commission from 1961 to 1965, and served on the Acadiana Civil War Roundtable. Stiel was as a director of the former First Commercial Bank and Commercial Bancshares Holding Corp., secretary of Commercial Bancshares Inc. and was an advisory director of the former Hibernia National Bank. In 1993, Stiel was the recipient of the West St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce Golden Service Award and was also awarded the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award in 2003. Prior to the formation of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, he was a member of the Franklin Businessmen's Club. He was a member of the West St. Mary Chamber of Commerce and the St. Mary Parish Chamber Commerce. He served as the grand marshal of the West St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade in 1994. He was a charter member and first president of the St. Mary Chapter of Louisiana Landmarks Society, a member of the Franklin Historical Society, a former member of the Franklin Rotary Club, a member of the Franklin Lodge 57 F&AM Masonic Order and a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church where he served as a vestry board member. He was a past president of the Franklin PTA Club. He was also a sponsor of Franklin Little League and Biddy Basketball teams. He was a charter member of the St. Mary Parish LSU Alumni Association. He also served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1964 and on the St. Mary Parish Republican Executive Committee. He was a past district commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he was a member of the Krewe of Sucrose Carnival Club where he was King Sucrose XXII. The family requests that remembrances be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St., Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203-1977 or to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be expressed online at www.davidfuneralhome.com. David Funeral Home, 400 Provost St., Jeanerette, (337) 276-5151 is in charge of arrangements.

Published by The Advocate on Mar. 22, 2009.
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Sue, Harry and family, we were very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers have been and are now with you during this time of grieving.

Jim @ Lisa Williamson

April 21, 2009

Sally, our prayers and sympathy go out to you and your family. Your grandfather was obviously a very special man that you were blessed to have in your life for so long. May he rest in peace and God bless you and your family.

Bryan & Mary Ball

March 24, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

BARBARA ECKLUND FRABBIELE

March 23, 2009

To the Stiel Family:
My sincere sympathy with the passing of Mr. Stiel. It was a pleasure and an honor to know and work for him.

Sue Besse

Susan Besse

March 23, 2009

Buddy and Joan Chauvin

March 22, 2009

Dear Mrs. Stiel, Don and family.

Please accept our depest sympathies. A contribution has been made to the Navy Marine Relief fund in Mr. Stiel's memory.

Don Oates, Rick Grisham, Mike Luckoski and Bill Snyder (Don"s friends from Castle Heights)

Bill Snyder

March 22, 2009

Susan, I am so sorry to hear about your father. Our prayers are with you and your famly. Love, Dottie and Craig

Dottie Mattison

March 22, 2009

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