Obituary of James A. Engel

James A. Engel, age 53, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at the House of the Dove in Marshfield, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief battle with liver cancer. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home. James Allen Engel was born August 14, 1961 in Wisconsin Rapids to Robert F. Engel and Elizabeth J. (Williams) Engel. Jim, Jimmy, or "Squirrel" as he was known by his friends had a knack of putting things in a very blunt way so people always knew where they stood with him. He also had a carefree jokester side that would put a smile on anyone's face. Jim was a kind person who enjoyed helping others, he contributed to many different benefits and the Cora Jones Scholarship fund held a special place in his heart. He was a motorcycle enthusiast who loved to ride both with clubs and independently. Jimmy wrote a few stories for the Free Riders Press. He enjoyed the outdoors and sitting around campfires. Jim liked to hang out with his family and friends. He understood the journey that had been so recently put upon him and accepted it with pride. Throughout the years, Jim held several jobs doing carpentry work and home building. His most recent employment was with Van Asten Painting. Jim was a reservist in the Army National Guard. Jim is survived by his father Robert and his stepmother Kay Engel of Wisconsin Rapids ; three brothers: Gary Engel and Donald Engel, both of Wisconsin Rapids, and Jeffrey (Josie) Engel of Pittsville; four sisters: Debora (Alex) Candelario of Vesper, WI, Connie Rockwell of Reno, NV, Brenda Engel of Wisconsin Rapids, and Vicki (Bob) O'Neil of Deerfield, WI; three stepbrothers: Steve (Lauren) Sparks of Pleasant Prairie, WI, Shane (Diane) Sparks of Bryant, WI, Kerry (Kim) Sparks of Wisconsin Rapids; seven stepsisters: Shelley (Paul) Muetzel of Oshkosh, WI, Sue Sparks of Madison, WI, Starr (Joe) Ruesch of Wisconsin Rapids, Stacey Sparks of Madison, WI, Sydney Barbee of Lindenhurst, IL, Kris Neidinger of Waunakee, WI, Tiffany (Mark) Tuttle of Nekoosa, WI, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Engel, and his nephew and godson Gunnar Engel. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that everyone please attend the benefit that was planned for Jim at the Wild Horse Saloon in Kellner on October 18th from 1:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Jim would have loved to see everyone there. Online condolences can be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net Jim's family would like to thank Ministry Home Care Hospice for their loving care and concern for Jim.