John H. Paffel, 90, of Cumberland, died on Friday, May 15, 2009, at Cumberland Extended Care Unit with Mabel, his loving wife of 69 years, at his side.
He was born on July 5, 1918, in Spooner to Anthony and Emma (Nemec) Paffel.
He graduated from Spooner High School in 1938 and worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp located in Cable. During 1943, John worked in Greenland assisting with the building of a hospital for the armed forces.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a steam fitter and was stationed at Norfolk, Va. John was honorably discharged in 1946.
He was married in York, S.C., on May 16, 1940, to Mabel C. Britt.
For many years John owned and operated a purebred holstein dairy farm in Comstock. Along with farming, John graduated from Reisch American School of Auctioneering in 1949 and was a well known auctioneer in northern Wisconsin, until his retirement in 2006.
He served on the Crystal Lake School Board for many years and on the Comstock Methodist Church Council. In past years, John served on the Barron County Fair Board and was recognized for 50 years of dedicated service to 4-H and FFA Livestock Members.
He was loved by all who met and knew him. He now resides with our Lord and Savior in Heaven.
He is survived by his wife, Mabel; two daughters, Judy (Bob) Greener of Cumberland and Rebecca (Charles) Bents of Osceola; three sons, Mike (Renea) of Cumberland, Kelly (Wendy) of Naples, Fla., and Robert (Darlene) of Cumberland; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Germann of Cumberland and Gertrude (Lyle) Melton of Modesto, Calif.; and one brother, Albert, of Spooner.
John was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Tony, Henry and George; one sister, Dorothy; and one great-granddaughter, Ava Faith Bents.
The funeral was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 18, at Augustana Lutheran Church. Rev. Jennifer Elmquist officiated.
Burial was in Lakeside Cemetery, Cumberland.
Pall bearers were Ryan Paffel, Steve Paffel, Bob J. Greener, Scott Greener, Brian Paffel and Richard Bents.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Skinner Funeral Home of Cumberland.
