Obit: Handel, Roger J. (1932 - 2009)
Poster: Robert Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Dahlvig, Danen, Handel, Handel-Erdrich, Hansen, Hemberger,
Meulemans, Willger, Wisnewski
 
----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor County, Wisconsin) Thursday,
October 1, 2009, Online Edition
 
Handel, Roger J. (September 20, 1932 - September 29, 2009)
 
Roger "Pudge" J. Handel, 77, Medford, died Tuesday, Sept. 29 at his home,
under the care of his family and hospice.
 
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary
Catholic Church in Medford, with Father Gerard Willger and Father Dennis
Meulemans officiating, and military rites performed by the Medford Military
Honors Team. Inurnment of his cremated remains will take place at Medford
Evergreen Cemetery II at a later date. His grandchildren will serve as
pallbearers.
 
Visitation will be held at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford on Saturday from 10
a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
 
Roger Handel was born September 20, 1932 in the Town of Little Black to Otto
and Helen (Hemberger) Handel.
 
He attended Stetsonville elementary schools and was a 1950 graduate of
Medford High School. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to
1954.
 
On June 7, 1958 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stetsonville, he married
Arlene Danen, who survives.
 
Before and after serving in the Air Force, he worked at Handel Motor Company
in Stetsonville and later Medford for most of his life. From 1965 to the
present, he co-owned with his brother, then owned and operated the business.
In the early 1950s they started Handel Evergreen Tree Farm which he still
owned.
 
He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Wisconsin Christmas Tree
Growers Association, Wisconsin Auto Dealers Association, Medford VFW Club
and life member of Stetsonville American Legion Club. He enjoyed John Deere
tractors, going to automobile auctions, his pond and fish and Christmas
trees, his grandchildren, retreat at Willow Lake and his dog, Queenie.
 
In addition to his wife, survivors include six children, Douglas (Susan),
Karen (Brad) Dahlvig, Daniel, David (Jane) and Al (Toni), all of Medford,
and JoAnn Handel of Aurora, Ill.; a sister, Marian Hansen of New Berlin; a
sister-in-law, Eileen Handel of Medford; ten grandchildren, Ellie, Quay and
Laney Handel, Alexis Handel-Erdrich, Ember, Katie and Eric Dahlvig, Maxx and
Chase Handel and Nick Wisnewski; and two great-grandchildren.
 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald in
2005; a brother-in-law, Robert Hansen in 2003; and a granddaughter, Franny
Handel.
 
The family requests memorials in his name to Holy Rosary School.
 
Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com