Roger Kenneth Clayton Immel
Roger
Kenneth Clayton Immel, 66, a resident of 820 South Park Avenue, Fond du Lac,
passed away Thursday, October 9 at his home.
He
was born January 17, 1948 in St. Cloud, WI, a son of the late Harold and Laura
Scherer Immel.
Roger
was a 1966 graduate of Winnebago Lutheran Academy, attended Northwestern
Preparatory School in Watertown, WI (where he won 1st in State for
112 lb wrestling division) for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Ministry and then attended the University of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac, Marian
College, and Moraine Park Technical College, where he earned a degree in
A.O.D.A. counseling.
He
served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 with the 82nd
Airborne Division, where he served as a drill instructor at Fort Bragg and the
United States Marine Corps from 1971 to 1972, including service as a drill
instructor at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA for 6 months, during the Vietnam
War. From 1968 to 1969 he worked for
Mercury Marine as a machinist. From 1969
to 1971 Roger was employed by Kiekhaefer Aeromarine. From 1972 to 1974 Roger
was employed as a snowmobile test driver, assembly man and welder for John
Deere Co., Horicon. He worked at
Services Motors Company as a car salesman for two years, earning several
salesmen of the month awards and a regional salesman of the month award from
Ford Motor Company. He raced Mopar
products while working for Service Motors, running a Dodge Demon called the “Screaming
Demon” and a Plymouth Duster called the “Grass Hopper”. These vehicles were
listed in Hot Rod Magazine. His main vehicle was a 1965 Dodge Coronet with a
426 cubic inch hemi engine. His best
time was 9.28 seconds, 148 miles per hour, in the quarter mile. In 1975 he joined the U.S. Postal Service as a
custodian and later became a letter carrier.
He retired from the Postal Service in 1987, due to failing health.
Roger
was a former member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, North Fond du Lac.
He
was instrumental in founding the Marine Corps League of Fond du Lac, having
served as its first Commandant and as its Chaplain for many years. He was a past Commander, Adjutant for 18
years and District Commander from 1981-1982 reaching 104% of his quota, and
Chaplain of the Disabled American Veterans, Welling/Washbush Chapter #11, since
1973 a member of the American Legion Post #75, serving as it’s Sergeant at Arms,
Chaplain for many years, a member of the executive board for 4 years and as an
active member of the Honor Guard; a charter member of Am Vets Post #41, serving
as it’s First Commander from 1996 to 1997, Adjutant, and as it’s Chaplain for
many years, and was a member, secretary, membership director and prayer leader
for the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #58 East Central Wisconsin.
Roger
was an active member of the Gratitude Club, Fond du Lac since 1986, a former
member of it’s board of directors for many years; a member of the Fond du Lac
Noon Lions Club, and served on it’s board of directors and was the “Tail
Twister”, a former member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #57 and a member of the
Eagles Aire #270 and a former member of the Holy Land Snow Flyers, and
currently served as the president of the Parkview Condominium Association.
Survivors
include one son, Brian Immel of Fond du Lac, three daughters, Leah Immel of
Fond du Lac, Anna Immel of Madison, and Jenepher (nee Demge) (“Mickey”) Molina
of Fond du Lac, and by eight grandchildren. He is further survived by one
brother, Norman (Sylvia) Immel of Fond du Lac, nieces, nephews, other relatives
and many friends.
He
was preceded in death by one son, Scottie Michael Immel, a daughter, Tiffany
Born, and a sister, Lois Immel.
Visitation: Family will receive
relatives and friends on Monday October 13, 2014 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Zacherl
Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street. Also a visitation will be held from 10:00
to 10:45 AM at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 55 Prairie Road, on Tuesday
October 14, 2014.
Services: A Funeral Services will be held at Faith Evangelical
Lutheran Church, on Tuesday October 14, 2014, at 11:00 AM. Military Honors will
be conducted by the American Legion and Marine Corp following the service. The
Rev. David Haugly will officiate. Burial
will be in the Forest Lyons Cemetery.
Memorials
in Roger’s name may be directed to Winnebago Lutheran Academy, the Gratitude
Club, or the Marine Corps League Detachment #552.
Zacherl
Funeral Home is serving the family. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com