On the night of Oct. 9, 2022, Galen Arthur Seipel passed on from this world. He was 83 years old. He was born on the family farm north of Elmwood, WI and East of Spring Valley, WI to Herbert Seipel and Hilda (Frank) Seipel.
Upon graduation from Elmwood High School, he worked his way through college at the Wisconsin State University-River Falls (now University of Wisconsin- River Falls), earning his bachelor degree in Agriculture Education with a minor in Industrial Arts. He would later return to get his master degree in teaching.
In 1961, he married Marlene (Zillmer) Seipel. Together they had two sons, Glen Seipel and Benjamin Seipel. Galen and Marlene divorced in 1999. Galen remarried in 2007 to Heather (Kuester) Seipel.
Galen enjoyed traveling (when his schedule allowed it) along with going to and hosting parties with family and friends. His hobbies included work, work, and more work along with staring at his fishing boat.
Galen’s association with the City of Prescott, WI began in 1964 with his teaching career in the Prescott School District. He was with the school district for sixteen and half years, retiring from teaching during Christmas break in 1980. During his time teaching, he helped with advising students involved with the Future Farms of America. He drove bus in the earlier part of his teaching career. He worked with the Prescott Daze committee in the 1970s too.
It was a chance encounter at city hall that put him on his next career path. After complaining about his property taxes to city clerk, he was told that position of the property tax assessor was open. He would go on to be the contact assessor and building inspector for the City of Prescott for over two decades. After his time as the city’s assessor and building inspector came to an end, he served on the city council for nine years. Some of the other municipalities that Galen worked for over the decades included: Villages of Baldwin, Bay City, Ellsworth, Maiden Rock, North Hudson, Plum City, and Stockholm along with the Towns of Clifton, El Paso, Oak Grove, Stockholm, Trenton, and Troy. Galen also worked as zoning administrator in some communities.
His faith was extremely important to him as well as his dedication to Joy Lutheran Church in Prescott.
Galen is survived by his wife Heather, his sons Glen and Ben Seipel (Matt Jones). Her children Scott Kuester (Tami), Lexi Severson, Brian Kuester, and Mark Kuester (Kim), his brother Ron Seipel, his sister Anita Lechner (Frank), numerous nieces and nephews, along with Heather’s grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Galen was preceded in death by his parents Herbert & Hilda Seipel, former wife Marlene Seipel; brothers Merlin Seipel, LaVeren Seipel, and Gerald Siepel; sister-in-law Joyce Seipel, and the family cat Geno.
A Memorial service for Galen was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Joy Lutheran Church, 1435 St. Croix St., Prescott, WI 55021. A gathering of family and friends will take place immediately after the service. Interment will follow the gathering with a procession to Pine Glen Cemetery starting at 1: 30 p.m. from the church.
Memorials may be designated to Joy Lutheran Church.
Cremation services provided by Crescent Tide of St. Paul, MN.
