Wade Lee Mansel

January 20, 1942 ~
December 12, 2025

Wade Lee Mansel, 83, of Howard City, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, December 12, 2025. 

Wade was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. A true outdoors man, he found great joy in hunting and fishing, feeling most at home in nature. Whether fly fishing along a quiet riverbank or sitting patiently in a tree stand, the outdoors was where he felt most at peace. Wade loved sharing his adventures and stories with family and friends. He was also very artistic and took great pride in his painting, often creating nature-inspired scenes on moose antlers—an expression of his deep love for the outdoors. Wade was a kind, gentle, and funny man, well known for his one-liners that almost always ended in laughter.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Ron Mansel. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 45 years, Norma; step-son, Jimmy Van Ess and step-daughter, Yvonne Fuller; granddaughters, Cassie and Kyle Shoemaker, Carle Pascoe, Jenna Helmus, LaRae Mansel, Tabby Mansel, McKenzi Roberts, Aleah Fuller; great-grandchildren, Ellerie, Evan, Jude, Eisley; brother, Robert and Jean Mansel; brother-in-law, Rodger and Sam Routsaw; sister in law, Sherry Sayfie. 

Memorial services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 1601 Post Drive NE, Belmont, with Rev. Dennis Gilbert officiating. Relatives and friends may meet the family on Saturday at 10 am, one hour prior to the service. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Humane Society or St. Judes Children's Hospital.

Visitation
Saturday, December 20
10:00am - 11:00am

MKD - Belmont
1601 Post Dr. NE
Belmont, MI 49306
Get Directions

Phone: (616) 866-7200

Memorial Service
Saturday, December 20
11:00am

MKD - Belmont
1601 Post Dr. NE
Belmont, MI 49306
Get Directions

Phone: (616) 866-7200

Leave Your Tribute Message

December 15, 2025 12:00pm
My best hunting memories are when Wade and I went to Canada hunting and fishing. We had some great times for sure. I surely miss those days and will forever remember all the fun we had cruising the back roads of Canada. We had some crazy moments that I'll never forget. God bless you Wade thank you for all the great memories and for being such a great Grandpa to Jenna!

- Jeff Helmus




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