Roy Allen Menzel, 95, Stevens Point, a resident at Oakridge Senior Living Community, died Saturday, April 14, 2012, at Ministry St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Stevens Point, with the Rev. William Menzel, his son, officiating.
Visitation will be held at Boston Funeral Home in Stevens Point from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and at the church from 10 a.m. Friday until the service.
Memorials may be directed to the Green Circle Trail Endowment or the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools.
Condolences may be offered online at bostonfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Menzel was born March 21, 1917, in Stevens Point, a son of the late William C. and Hazel (Norton) Menzel. He attended schools in Stevens Point, graduating from Emerson High School in 1934. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1938 where he played basketball.
He was married to Margaret Alice Rogers on Sept. 7, 1940, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Stevens Point.
He began his career with Hardware Mutual (Sentry Insurance) in 1938, working mostly in marketing communications and community relations. In 1962, he left Sentry to start his own public relations consulting firm in Stevens Point, teaming with Bob Williams to form Menzel-Williams & Associates. Over the next 20 years, his clients included major area employers such as Sentry Insurance, Copps Corp., River Pines, St. Michael’s Hospital, Stevens Point Brewery, and Consolidated Papers.
In 1964, he was hired as the first executive director of the newly established Wisconsin Dental Service Inc. (now Delta Dental of Wisconsin) and served in that capacity until 1974.
Mr. Menzel helped with the establishment of the Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) in Mosinee.
He was a member of the Stevens Point Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years, serving as president during a portion of this time; and assisted with the development of Youth Baseball, YMCA, the Goerke Park swimming pool and tennis courts, the Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, Operation Bootstrap and Pacelli High School boosters.
He was also a member of the Green Circle Committee and published two books to benefit the Green Circle Trail, “Hometown on the River” (1989) and “123 Thoughts for the Day” (2008).
He received the Stevens Point Distinguished Citizen Award (1965), the William E. Hansen Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2006), and the Quality of Life Leadership Award from St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation (2006).
Survivors include his wife; seven sons, the Rev. William, Wisconsin Rapids, James (Sharon), Fritz (Carol), Stephen (Wendy) and Daniel (Jennie Lane), all of Stevens Point, Michael, Plainfield, and Thomas (Kate Higgins), Hansville, Wash.; two daughters, Kathryn (Charles) Collins, Appleton, and Janet (Ron) Jurgella, Stevens Point; one brother, Exner, Oconomowoc; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Sue; two brothers, William “Frank” and Alfred “Ted”; and one grandson.
