Kenneth Stanciel

March 31, 1934 - Feb. 27, 2025

Kenneth Bernard Stanciel Sr, also known as KB, Ken and Kenny, was born in Malvina, Mississippi on March 31, 1934 to Willie Savannah Jenkins-Stanciel and Elbert Stanciel. Ken's only sibling, Lenny David Stanciel predeceased Ken in 2003. Ken joined the United States Air Force in 1951, serving duty as a mechanic in San Antonio, Japan and Korea, before being discharged from Pittsburgh, Pa. While serving his country, Ken also played baseball for the Air Force, and later minor league baseball in Washington State. He suffered a knee injury while playing for the military, which ultimately disqualified him as a candidate for Major League Baseball. Following his time in the military, Ken Stanciel moved to Chicago where he attended and graduated from Crane High School and DePaul University. Ken's sales and marketing career began in Chicago, taking him from Gerber Baby Foods to Seagrams to the Chicago Broadcast Media, including CBS and Gannett, among others. While employed as a Broadcast Sales Account Executive, Kenneth Stanciel proved his savvy business sense by founding Able Elevator Company in Chicago, accepting private contracts as well as government contracts. Mr Stanciel sold Able Elevator around the same time he retired from the media. Ken Stanciel's versatility was highly recognized in Chicago and he leaves behind an incredible legacy of colleagues and friends. Outside of his business career, Ken Stanciel attended the Goodman Theater acting school, after which he appeared in several local classical and Shakespeare stage productions as an actor and singer. Throughout his life, Ken continued his love of acting by being cast in local television commercials and small parts in films such as "Backdraft"and "The Unborn". In 2008, Ken was a diplomat in The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. In 1959, Kenneth Stanciel and Deborah Jones were married at the University of Chicago, later blessing their family with two sons, Kenneth II and Kevin. After Deborah's passing in 1995, Ken married Dianne Thompson in 1999. Ken Stanciel's retirement years were spent with Dianne living in Chicago, North Carolina and New Jersey, making new friends everywhere he went. Ken Stanciel loved his grandchildren, always excited to hear about their experiences and constantly proving he was "Joe Cool" by being one of the first in the family to consistently use Bitmojis when texting. He was so cool to the children that his grandchildren referred to him as "G-dad when they were mere tots. Ken also loved his friends, the Chicago Bears, the Chjcago Bulls and relaxing at home. Kenny or Grandad as he is also known, is survived by his wife Dianne, sons Kevin (Tracy) and Kenny II (Rishal), five grandchildren: Kennedy, Ken III, Kendall, Ginger & Lauren Stanciel, as well as a great granddaughter, Aubrielle, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Kenneth Stanciel Sr passed peacefully in his sleep at home on the morning of February 27th, 2025.