Angeline Alice Tamel

Angeline Alice Tamel was born on June 14, 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the second of six children of Phillip and Dorothy Marie (Millet) Vincer. Her mother’s ancestors came to America on the Mayflower, and her father was of Italian descent.

Among the happiest memories of her childhood was sitting on the porch and listening to her father and uncles play Italian music on mandolins and guitars. She thought that her uncles and dad were the most handsome men in the world. She wanted to marry someone just like her father. The closeness, love and hospitality that Angeline experienced from her parents and grandparents would be passed from one generation to the next.

During the Great Depression there was little money for outside entertainment so Angeline and her siblings—Margaret, John, Peter, Phillip and Mary Ann had no trouble using their imaginations to keep themselves entertained.

Angeline was impetuous and had a habit of doing exactly what she was told not to do. While she had little patience for organization, she focused on matters that impacted her emotionally. She enjoyed going to Sunday School, but she couldn’t go often because of the distance from the church. Still, there was something that drew her to God

During the first eleven years of her life, Angeline’s parents moved eight times, making it difficult for her to establish lasting friendships. Her family finally settled in Silverdale between Cudahy and South Milwaukee where she began 7th grade and later attended South Milwaukee High School.

Tragedy struck when the family was involved in an auto accident where Margaret and Mary Ann were severely injured. A year later Mary Ann developed pneumonia and died.

Angeline entered her teen years with her mother’s stipulation that she could date when she was 16. About that time she was invited by a friend to go to a boxing match. When she saw the curly-haired blond boy in the ring, she thought she would like to get to know him. It took several weeks, but Angeline learned that his name was Frank Tamel. When they finally talked, he asked her where she lived. The next morning, Frank showed up at her house on horseback. They hit if off right away and so her first date became her only date. Her mother’s approval came with these words, “If you marry Frank, you’ll never go hungry.”

Frank’s parents fell in love with her and treated her like part of the Tamel family. Frank never formally proposed, but gradually it seemed that in their conversations “I” became “we.” They were married on October 17, 1942.

The wedding was a simple affair with just family in attendance. The family had little experience in making wedding arrangements so they never considered a reception, a wedding cake, or where they would go after the ceremony. Their honeymoon consisted of going to Chicago to visit friends. However, in years to come, Frank took his bride for many honeymoons all over the world.

Frank was due to be drafted so he enlisted in the Navy and reported for duty just three months after the wedding. Angeline joined Frank in DeLand, Florida where their first child was born on August 16, 1944. He was named Frank III but was nicknamed “Sandy.” When Frank shipped Angeline and the baby came home to Cudahy to stay with his parents. Anthony Phillip was born on February 7, 1946. With the birth of their daughter Cheryl on December 14, 1950, the Tamel family was complete.

Early in 1957, with the encouragement of her in-laws, Angeline felt a need to get serious about her relationship with God and was Baptized into Jesus Name. She witnessed to her husband who also was baptized and the two of them became vibrant servants of God. Angeline was involved in choir and taught Sunday School with an uncommon wisdom. She rarely used teaching illustrations outside of her personal experiences. She had a way of making her stories come alive to everyone who heard her.

In 1972, God moved Frank to establish a place of worship in South Milwaukee. While still holding a full time job, he gathered interested people in the basement of his sister and brother-in-law’s home. Angeline was left to handle every need that came along.

When a small vacant church in Oak Creek became available Frank and Angeline sold their home in Hales Corners and moved to the parsonage. Side by side, they labored for the Lord, with Angeline teaching and providing pre-marriage instruction for couples and giving financial counseling to anyone who asked.

Their home always was a welcome place for people to come with their needs, from family members who had nowhere to go to strangers with addictions and even mean dogs. Because of her care and generosity, and the love of Christ that she displayed, lives were transformed.

Because of the faithfulness of their parents, all of Frank and Angeline’s children are commitment to serve God. Angeline loved her children unconditionally and would tell her children how fortunate she was to have them while they felt they were the blessed ones.

Although Angeline never attended college, she served as principal at Parkway Christian Academy for close to twenty years. She proved herself to be an exceptional mentor for the students as well as an extraordinary bible teacher.

Together Frank and Angeline formed memorable traditions of faith and family that remained with the children when they left home and started families of their own. Wonderful family meals were standard fare and holidays were always special. She always had time for her grand children, particularly on birthdays. She took every grandchild and great grandchild out for their birthday, letting them pick the place to eat and the store from which to buy their gift.

Angeline stayed close to her siblings and parents. She provided care for her mother until her mother’s death at the age of 106. Both she and her mother saw the good in others, never gossiped, kept a positive attitude and lived each day with vigor.

During her illness near the end of her life’s journey she took great pleasure in family singing, and worship with praises to God. We were blessed to have her with us through the holiday season. She was called home on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.