September 16, 2021 at 8:57 p.m.
Walter Herman Engel
He was born September 12, 1915, to Henry and Anna Engel of Butternut. Wally was the oldest son of eight siblings and spent his formative and adolescence years on the family farm. He quickly learned the farm meant long days and hard work in the fields and tending to livestock. The farm provided much of what the family existed on, however when there was shortages Wally was hired out to work for other local farmers. His labor was then traded for provisions, seed for plantings, whatever the farm needed to survive. During his college years he returned home on weekends to work and support the farm. On August 22, 1940, he married Margaret Timm and moved to Winchester.
After graduating from Butternut High School, he attended County Normal Teacher’s Training School in Ashland for one year and then on to Superior State Teachers College for his degree. In 1934 he began his teaching career at the Little White School east of Butternut with 27 students, all grades (1 through 8) and all subjects. In 1938 he moved to Winchester and spent the next 32 years at area schools (Winchester, Mercer, Lac du Flambeau and Manitowish Waters) where he was a teacher, principal, and basketball coach. In 1970, he moved to North Lakeland School and specialized in teaching math and remained at North Lakeland until retiring in 1980. His teaching career covered a small geographical area for an extended period of time and as a result he taught double generation families. In retirement he enjoyed frequent visits with former students.
To supplement the family income, he worked at a variety of jobs during the summer months from fishing guide to resort handy man. He eventually secured a job at Winegar (Presque Isle) Plumbing and Heating and learned the trade. In 1955 he bought them out and started his own plumbing business. This became Wally’s second career as Master Plumber. For forty years he provided plumbing services to the residents of Vilas County. His three sons often worked alongside of their father in the business in their teenage years.
Wally was elected as Winchester town assessor after retiring and continued to serve the community with integrity for 20 years until he retired again at age 85. He is a charter member of the Lions Club and served as president, treasurer, and secretary throughout the years.
Wally enjoyed the outdoors and made the most of seasons. The winter provided time for skiing behind the car on South Turtle Road, ice fishing, snowmobiling with friends across Vilas and Iron counties, and ice skating. He was an excellent skater and made sure the school had a rink for students to enjoy. Spring, summer, and fall were perfect for softball, pheasant and grouse hunting and deer hunting. Fishing was high on the list, many trips to Canada with friends and sometimes just the family would do a fly-in trip to some remote Canadian lake. Wally loved that shore lunch with fresh caught walleye, beans and home fried potatoes. He spent many hours on South Turtle, North Turtle, Pardee, No Mans, Rock and Harris Lakes wetting a line. During the times he and Marge wintered in Florida some deep-sea fishing with his son was enjoyed.
If the weather didn’t cooperate for outside activities, it was time to play cards. Friends, relatives, and family tried their luck at 500, smear, euchre, canasta, cribbage, hand and foot, and Wally’s favorite, sheepshead. He was a good card player and very competitive, but enjoyed playing Go Fish, Uno or War with his grandkids and great-grandkids. While at Primrose he enjoyed sheepshead with fellow residents and almost a nightly cribbage match with Marge.
During his almost 80-year marriage to Marge they raised three sons, built their home on South Turtle Lake, traveled extensively after retirement, and really enjoyed their life. When Margaret and Wally were courting, they loved to dance and continued to dance together well into their 90s.
For 79 years, he devoted his life as a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Walter is survived by sons Roger (LaVonne) Engel of Edgerton, Dale (Barbara) Engel of Overland Park, Kan., Gary (Shirley Mae) Engel of Pensacola, Fla., granddaughters Heather (Duane) Zoldak of Elgin, Ill., Casey Engel (Logan Haley) of Asheville, N.C., and Jesse (Tyler) Murphy of Pensacola, Fla.; great-granddaughters Amelia and Helena Zoldak and Blake Murphy and siblings; Ervin Engel, Donald Engel, and Louise Hoefferle.
Walter was preceded in death by his wife, parents, siblings: Ruth Ritcher, Laura Thimm, Ella Pohle, Viola Wenninger and a grandson Jeffrey.
According to Walter’s wishes, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Winchester Memorial Garden and Historical Society at 2117 Lake Street Winchester, WI 54557.
The family would like to give special thanks to Walter’s loving caregivers at Primrose Retirement Community and Interim Healthcare.
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
E-Editions
250 X 250 AD
Events
250 X 250 AD
Comments:
You must login to comment.