Surnames: Gamel, Wegner, Stangl

----Source: Loyal TRG 05 March 2008

Gamel, Lester A. #3 (16 JUN 1918 - 28 FEB 2008)

Lester A. Gamel, 89, Granton, died on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at The House of Dove Hospice, Marshfield. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, March 8, at Geshe Funeral Home, Neillsville, to celebrate the blessedness of Papa’s life. The family will begin receiving guests at 10:15 and extends an invitation for refreshments before and a small brunch after the honor guard presentation at the end of the service.

Lester A. Gamel was born on June 16, 1918, in Holt County, Neb. He left school upon graduating from eighth grade in order to work a variety of jobs on farms and ranches as well as to trap and hunt, insuring the sufficiency of his family. In later years, he worked on and led thrashing crews that traveled throughout the Midwest, further contributing to the care of his mother, brothers and sisters, after the death of his father in 1938. In 1941, he joined the armed forces to serve his country during World War ll and became a member of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Division. Departing from Leavenworth, Kan., in July 1941, his mission rooted from Hawaii and stemmed into the South Seas. Wounded in June 1945, awarded the Purple Heart and ranked as staff sergeant, his commission ended honorably. He saw combat in the Marshall, Philippines, Awautu, Aleutians, Okinawa and Kyukyus Islands. Upon his discharge in October 1945 and returning to Nebraska, Lester met and wed his beautiful bride, Evelyn June Wegner, on March 2, 1946. In 1947, his first daughter, Laura Lee Ann, was born and in 1951, Carol Ann. He worked the stockyards in Ewing, Neb., owned by his father-in-law, worked his mother’s farm and ran his own farm. After his mother’s death in 1954, he moved his family into Ewing and began working in a local lumber yard but eventually left to become a full- time gas transport truck driver. Through his traveling took him into many states of various climates and scenery, he fell in love with Wisconsin. In 1956, he moved his family and ran a dairy farm south of Neillsville. Over the next 13 years, he also raised sheep, hogs and chickens, worked for Tesmer and Geier Construction and Ellis & Volz Cranberry and was also blessed with his third daughter, Susan Ann in 1964. Five years Later, in 1969, the farm was sold and the family moved to rental property in the vicinity of Sherwood. He earned his living in pulping as a woodsman and for his good friend, Bernard Kling, as an independent cutter, before and after moving to Granton. For three years, he also worked for Sullivan Construction in Wisconsin Rapids until his health began to fail due to an on-the-job accident. He returned to independent pulping and cutting until his second stroke forced his full retirement in 1990 at the age of 72.

He loved and respected all that was of nature. He was in awe of the beauty and creations in the woods, the waters and the sky. With the deepest of patience to encourage and wait for a chickadee or butterfly to sit on his sleeve and marvel at the moment, so was his impatience for those who took for granted or abused the innocent, meek, docile and majesty of the Lord’s miraculous creations. A living memorial is planned for planting in the spring. Donations of living plants or gift cards to contribute to this endeavor will be greatly appreciated. Dad will be sorrowfully missed by all those who truly knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, currently residing at the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center, Neillsville; two daughters, Carol Gamel and Susan Stangl; two brothers, Edward and Sanford. Three sisters, Irene, Etta and Shirley; six grandchildren, Bryon, Samantha, Frankie John, Rita Jane, Kari and Crystal; and seven great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his father, Harvey Sanford Gamel; and mother, Minnie Cora (Nee Buskirk) Gamel; two sister, Baby Bessie and Frances; one brother, Pat; and one daughter, Laura Lee Yeager-Morris.

Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, is assisting the family with arrangements.