Earl R. Stensgaard, 98, of Hudson and formerly Houlton passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, July 18, 2016. He was born March 15, 1918 to Julius and Gyda (Swanson) Stensgaard in Woodville Wisconsin. He attended Woodville area schools. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1945.

He attended University of Wisconsin River Falls, graduating with a teaching degree, and his first job was teaching in rural New Richmond. He then worked at various jobs until settling at Honeywell as a Designer/Draftsman in 1955. There he worked for 25 years in the Avionics Department on projects such as the original Apollo missions and designing hand controls for the moon buggy until his retirement on May 31, 1980.

On August 7, 1939 he married Cora McConaughey in Bozeman Montana, sneaking off to elope during a family vacation. They were together for 61 years until her death in 2001, making their home and raising their children in Houlton. He is survived by children Randy (Cindy) of Hudson and Linda Bailey of Woodbury MN. Two grandchildren Daniel (April) Stensgaard of Hudson and Kristine Stensgaard of Portland, OR, sister Doris Greenseth of Bloomington IL and his favorite niece, Barb Cook. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and close friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Cora and his parents.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 920 Third St., Hudson, with a visitation held one hour prior to the service at church. Interment at Houlton Cemetery in Houlton, WI.