Joseph Hengel

HENGEL, Joseph W Age 92, of Folsom, CA, passed away March 16, 2015. He was born in Hazelton, ND on February 20, 1923. Joe graduated from Powell County High School in Deer Lodge, MT in 1941. After the entry of the United States into World War II, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in late 1942. At the conclusion of boot camp in San Diego, he was selected to attend Officer's Training in Quantico, Virginia and Camp Lejeune, NC. Once deployed to the south Pacific, he was assigned to the 17th Marines (Engineers), 1st Marine Division. He was a part of the first wave of Marines in the landings on the island of Peleliu in the Palau Islands on September 15, 1944. He later was also part of the invasion of the island of Okinawa which commenced April 1, 1945. Following the surrender of Japan, he was deployed to Tientsin, China until his return stateside in January, 1946. Joe remained in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1962.He married Patricia Tocci of Three Forks, MT on January 4, 1947 and settled in Toppenish, WA to start a family. In 1959, they moved to Sacramento, CA. Joe worked in both wholesale and retail clothing for his entire career. He was devoted to his family, a fan of motor home travel and a thorough sports enthusiast, he being a bit of a notable high school basketball player in his days in McIntosh, SD and Deer Lodge, MT. He is survived by three children: Michael Hengel (spouse Marcia), Judy Brown (spouse Gary) and Alan Hengel, six grandchildren (Matthew Hengel, Mark Hengel, Ben Nickel, Sam Nickel, Stephen Jaurequi and Cassandra Hengel) and three great-grandchildren (Makenna Hengel, Henry Hengel and Hadley Hengel). Funeral services will be held Monday, March 23 at Green Valley Mortuary, 3004 Alexandrite Road, Rescue, CA (www.greenvalleymortuary.com). A viewing will start at 10:00 AM with services at 11:00 AM. Donations in lieu of flowers to www.semperfifund.org would be appreciated.