Victor W. Pagel

Victor W. PagelVictor W. Pagel, 86, of W1095 Highway B, Town of Osceola, Campbellsport, died Monday, December 5, 2005, at St. Agnes Hospital. He was born December 21, 1918, in Plymouth, WI, the son of William and Ida Thalheim Pagel. On April 23, 1955, he married Elaine M. Blackmore at Our Lady of Angels Church in Armstrong. She preceded him in death on July 31, 2000. Mr. Pagel was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Parish, and was former member of the parish council. Victor left home at age 15 to work for Associated Fur Farms in New Holstein. After graduating from New Holstein High School in 1935 at age 16, he worked until his enlistment in the US Army in 1943, where he served as a combat medic in Europe. Near the end of the war, he became a POW for six months until V-E Day. Upon his return to the United States, he constructed and operated a mink ranch in New Hampshire for several years before returning to Wisconsin. He eventually settled in the Armstrong area remaining in the mink business where he worked for Norbert Abhold for seven years. In 1954, he moved across from the Abhold family where he formerly resided and started Pagel Mink Ranch with 164 female mink. He owned and operated his business with his late wife, Elaine, and his son, John, until his death. He was a member of the Kettle Moraine Mink Breeders Association where he was a past president, and a board member for over 40 years. He was chairman of the K.M.M.B.A. Mink show for as long as it existed, and very often would win in many categories. Pagel Mink Ranch also won many honors at the State and International level. He was a member of St. Cloud American Legion Post #478 for over 50 years. He also was a former member of the Campbellsport School Board and was an original shareholder in United Feeds of Plymouth.Surviving are two sons, John (Carole) Pagel of Armstrong, and Joseph (Cathy) Pagel of St. Cloud, and two daughters, Lynn (Steve) Ditter of Dotyville and Maureen "Bear" (Allen) Freund of Fond du Lac, eleven grandchildren, Julie (Jeff) Ziegler, Sara Freund, Tom Ditter, Mark Freund, Cassie Pagel, Lindsey Freund, J.J. Pagel, Terry Boda, Lori (Gary) Lloyd, Sue (Tim) Hanlon, and Jeff Boda, and four great grandchildren, Justin and Karissa Lloyd, and Gabrielle and Joseph Hanlon. He is further survived by a sister, June Brookshire of Harrisonville, MO, two brothers, Roger (Betty) Pagel of Waukesha, and Robert (Eileen) Pagel of Madison, WI, and a cousin, Royce Thalheim, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. His parents, wife, and two brothers-in-law, Urban Brookshire, and Francis Blackmore, preceded him in death.



Visitation for Mr. Victor W. Pagel will be on Monday, December 12, 2005, from 4 to 8 pm at Shepherd of the Hills Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 8 pm on Monday. The Rev. Charles Wester will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom and Peter Abhold, Robert H. Zimbal Sr., Kenneth Fuhrmann, Melvin Blanke, Robert Langenfeld, Frank Kleinsek, Lee Gilgenbach, and Gordy Schauer. Cremation has taken place. A memorial has been established in Mr. Pagel's name. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com