William Carl Hensel

William Carl “Buddy” Hensel, 74 of Sioux City, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Holy Spirit Retirement Home. Abiding by family wishes, cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life Service will be at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, October 20, 2024 at the Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Visitation, with the family present, will be one hour prior to services. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel has assisted the family with arrangements.

Buddy was born on October 27, 1949 in Hinton, Iowa to William E. and Anna Hensel. He was raised on a farm outside Hinton before attending and graduating from the School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Buddy moved to Sioux City in 1974 where he spent 15 years working with the kitchen staff at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. He worked for a tree service before ending his working career as a farm hand outside South Sioux City, Nebraska. 

Buddy was a proud member of the Mayflower Congregational Church in Sioux City. He loved going to garage sales, going out for coffee at the Horizon Café, and spending time with family. Buddy collected John Deere Tractors, loved baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, and he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, along with playing basketball. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan, loved playing horseshoes, milking cows, and just about everything there was to master at being a farm hand. Buddy was generous as he shared his talents of teaching others how to speak in sign language.

Buddy is survived by his nephews James (Michelle) Iversen of Dakota City, Nebraska, Billy (Autumn) Hensel of South Carolina, Larry (Rhonda) LeClair of Sioux City; nieces Annie (Brian) Heath of Anthon, Iowa, Sherri (Bryan) Hays of Sioux City, Julie (Nathan) Burmeister of Minnesota; and sister-in-law, Donna Hensel of Minnesota.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim, sisters Sharlyn and Amber, and nephew, Jerry LeClair.