Wade Lee Mansel

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.