Calvin D. Orgel

Calvin “Pete” Orgel passed on January 8th, 2026 very peacefully, quietly and surrounded by his loving family at Aspirus Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids, WI after a lengthy two year stint with major medical problems that his team of doctors continued to try to make better. They called him a “very complicated patient”.

He was born on July 7, 1936 to Fred and Josephine Orgel in Midlothian, IL. He attended Midlothian Public School and then when his family moved to Pittsville he attended Pittsville High School graduating in 1954. He began his Sales Career at the early age of 7 when he sold the morning Chicago papers at the Midlothian Depot where his Grandfather R.K. Cumming was the Depot Station Agent and also the Post Master.

After graduation he joined Thorp Finance and then was an Insurance Agent for Peoples State Bank in Pittsville. He was also a member of the National Guard. In 1962 he joined his Father Fred as co-owner of Pittsville Motor Sales/Ford Dealership. He was on the Regional Board of Directors for Ford Motor Company for three years. After the dealership was sold in 1977 he went to work for V& H Ford in Marshfield as Heavy Duty Truck Manager. He also spent a year and a half in their Atlanta dealership.

On February 8, 1958 he married Charlene (Parmeter) at S.S. Peter and Paul Church, Wisconsin Rapids who he met on the train from Wisconsin Rapids to Chicago. Together they spent 67 years and 11 months exactly raising three wonderful children, Dawn, Scott and Kimberly Jo. They lived in Pittsville for 54 years. Pete was active at St. Joachim Catholic Church and was a member of the Holy Name Society. He was on the building fund raiser committee to build the present church and is presently a member of St. Bronislava Catholic Church in Plover.

He is survived by his wife, Charlene, daughter Dawn (Charles) Reeves, son Scott (Karla) Orgel. Grandchildren Jesse (Eri) Frost, Angela Gonzalez, Chelsea (Alonso) Santamaria, Camille Orgel. Step grandchildren: Magdalyn Reeves, Hannah (Matthew) Newman, Dakota Reeves. Great grandchildren Coryn, Seth, Sophie. Step great grandchildren: Brayan, Anyeli, Josiah. He also wished to acknowledge the wonderful exchange student we had from Brazil 50 years ago and her family who are like our very own children: Dr. Elcione Nunes and her husband Dr. Celso Nunes and their daughter Marina (Fabio) Ikehara and grandson Kai. Their son Henrique who was also our exchange student for a year 30 years ago and his wife Danna. He is survived by his sister LouAnn Sorrell and sister-in-law, Lois Orgel and by many wonderful nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his mother and Father, Fred and Josephine Orgel, daughter Kimberly Jo Orgel, brother Fred Orgel, Jr., brother-in-law John Sorrell, and Great Grand daughter Marbella Santamaria. Special thanks to his team of Doctors, Doctor Girotra, Dr. Wang, Dr. Shah and Dr. Richetto. The wonderful nursing staff at St. Joseph's 3rd floor Cardiology Dept. who were always so full of happy greetings every time he showed up and the hugs we got each time we left. Your kindness to us will stay with us forever.

Thank you to Anissa and Emily at Compassus Home Care and Pisarski Funeral Home in Plover for your care and compassion. Per his wishes a Celebration of Life will be held in early Spring.

Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the Orgel Family. For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com