Willard "Bud" Octive Stibal

Willard “Bud” Octive Stibal, 100, of Emporia, Kansas died Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Willard was born November 2, 1915 in Foley, Minnesota, the son of William J. and Celestine (Henry) Stibal. He lettered in football, basketball and declamation in high school and was the district Golden Glove Boxing Champion for two years in Minnesota. After graduation in 1934, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCCs) and was stationed at Hovland, Minnesota on the north shore of Lake Superior for a year. He earned his undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota and began teaching 1st through 8th grades in a one-room county school from 1937 to 1938. He was a high school principal by the time he entered the U.S. Army in May 1943, where he was admitted to Medical Administration Officer Candidate School (OCS) and upon graduation was assigned to the 94th Medical Gas Treatment Battalion. His unit provided support to General Patton’s Third Army in WWII in France and Germany. The unit set up field hospitals and evacuated tens of thousands of wounded, including for the Battle of the Bulge. The entire battalion received the Meritorious Service Award and Stibal personally was awarded the award with three bronze stars.

Willard resumed his teaching career after the war and utilized the GI Bill to earn his Ph.D. degree at the University of Minnesota. He taught at Eastern Montana College of Education, Billings, as Director of Student Teaching and Director of the Laboratory School. He was recruited to teach at the Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) in 1959, retiring in 1983.
Willard was a member of the National Education Association, Emporia Kiwanis Club, Phi Delphi Kappa, Ball-McColm Post #5 American Legion, Cursillo Organization and the Civil Conservation Corp in Minnesota. He is the author of two books: Roosevelt’s Secret Army and The Gentleman Giant.

Willard married Laura M. Schwankl at the Cathedral in St. Cloud, Minnesota on December 29, 1941. She died September 30, 2007 in Emporia, Kansas. He is survived by sons Thomas Stibal of Kansas City, Kansas; John Stibal of Glenville, Illinois; Mike Stibal of Wichita, Kansas; daughters Joan Stibal of Redmond, Oregon; Judy Davis of Index, Washingtion; Margaret Twaddle of Olathe, Kansas; Cathy Vandegrift of Wichita, Kansas; Jackie Lutz of Emporia, Kansas; Trisha Lee of Denver, Colorado; 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers Edwin Stibal and Gene Stibal and sister Evelyn Truszinski.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 9, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia, Kansas. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. The Celebrant will be Father Brandon Farrar of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Military Honors by Ball-McColm Post #5, American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Viewing and the Rosary will be recited 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura & Willard Stibal Scholarship Fund at Emporia State University, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia, Kansas; or St. Emily’s Catholic Church in Emily, Minnesota and sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willard "Bud" Octive Stibal, please visit our flower store.