Lester W. Abel

Les Abel, age 84 of Kaukauna, passed peacefully at his home on the river on Wednesday evening, May 31, 2017. Les was born on a dairy farm in Greenwood, Wisconsin on May 6, 1933, son of the late Theodore and Verna (Vollrath) Abel. He received his education at a country school in Clark County and was a 1951 graduate of the Greenwood High School. Les moved to Kaukauna in 1954 and worked at Thilmany Pulp and Paper until 1967 when he founded Abel Insurance. On September 1, 1956, Les married Joyce Meyer at Zion United Church of Christ in Greenwood, and the couple recently celebrated sixty wonderful years together.

Over the course of his professional life, Les was a voracious learner. He took many additional courses and classes, all intended to improve himself and his professional career. He was also extremely active in the community, having been a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ where he served on the Christian Enlistment Community, the building committee, and as a head usher for many years. He was also a member of the Kaukauna Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board, Kaukauna Educational Enhancement Network (KEEN), the Redevelopment Authority for the City of Kaukauna, Kaukauna Development and Design Committee, as a strategic planner for the Kaukauna School System, was a member of the Kaukauna Kiwanis Club and the Appleton Masonic Lodge #349. Les enjoyed volunteering at the Grignon Home and 1000 Islands Environmental Center.

Les is survived by his loving wife: Joyce Abel of Kaukauna; a son: Mark (Jackie Haen) Abel of Kaukauna; a daughter: Kay (Mark Priebusch) Abel of Sherwood; two granddaughters: Marie (Dan) Putman and Janel (Kyle Megna) Abel; a brother: Ronald (Jean) Abel of Marshfield; and a sister: Janis Priewe of DePere. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother-in-law: Daniel Priewe.

The funeral service for Les will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at IMMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 510 Sullivan Avenue in Kaukauna. Rev. Gail Irwin, and private burial will take place at Union Cemetery. Family and friends of Les are invited to greet the family directly at the church on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 PM until the time of the service. For more information or to share a memory of Les, please visit www.wichmannfargo.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Les and Joyce Abel Fund at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region or the Immanuel United Church of Christ Music Fund.

The family would like to thank everyone from St. Paul Hospice, especially Melissa and Kelly, for the love and care shown to Les and the family. We will never forget your kindness.

“Maintain a positive attitude, and make your dreams come true.”