News Death Notice
HANNEL III, Arthur Garfield sailed peacefully into the sunset on June 8, 2014 after six weeks enduring turbulent and angry seas. Art was born in Melrose, Massachusetts on June 6, 1937 but grew up in Buffalo, New York, which he described as having two seasons, winter and the 4th of July. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Janet Weitcomb, and two daughters of whom he was very proud: Susan L. Hannel of North Kingstown, Rhode Island and Barbara Hannel Gibson (Alan) of Pickerington, Ohio. He was the grandfather of Grace Elizabeth Gibson and Mason Ward Gibson, the latter fondly referred to by him as "Mason Dixon Gibson." He also leaves a cousin, Richard Henderson Millar of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ealean Henderson Hannel and Arthur Garfield Hannel Jr., both of Buffalo; his aunt and uncle Audrey Henderson Millar and Richard Millar of Silver Creek, NY, as well as his faithful companion, Lewie the beagle. Art was noted for his story and joke telling skills. He was an obsessive reader with an extensive library of military history books, all of which he had actually read. His passionate interest in the Civil War led him to study history at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. He wrote his senior thesis on General George Armstrong Custer, about whom he gave many lectures over the course of his life. While at Gettysburg he was a member of TKE fraternity and graduated in four years, much to the amazement of his family. As an undergraduate he enlisted in the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Officer Training Program. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1959. He served 13 months with the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and 13 months in Vietnam, which he described as a "forlorn conflict." Following Vietnam he was a Casualty Notification and Assistance Officer in western Pennsylvania. In this capacity, he made initial and frequent contact with the families of Marines who had been killed or wounded in Vietnam, which he recounted as a most somber experience. He was extremely proud of his military service and was honored to have served his country. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He regularly spoke about his experiences in the Vietnam War to Wittenberg University history students. He came to Springfield, Ohio, in 1970 to work as a human resources manager for the Elliott Company, retiring in 1992. He was an avid golfer and won the Elliot Company golf tournament several times. For 15 years he loved being a volunteer marshal on hole #3 for the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, where he regaled bystanders with jokes and tall tales. From 1995-1997 Art was president of the Springfield Polo Club. He is an honorary member of the London Rotary Club and a charter member of the Indoor Bird-Watchers Society. He served on the Springfield Civil Service Commission and was president of the Springfield Personnel Association. Art served as Commodore of the Kiser Lake Sailing Club, Champaign County and insisted that Kiser Lake was one of Ohio's best-kept secrets. In 1992 he won the club championship on his beloved Interlake, Black Douglas. That Interlake is now sailed on Narragansett Bay by his daughter and ship's crew, Susan. He was a life-long animal lover, but especially adored cats, and leaves his buddy, Zorro, to keep the rest of the Hannel felines in proper order. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Heritage Center of Clark County, 117 S. Fountain Ave. Springfield, Ohio 45502, Community Mercy Hospice 444 W. Harding Road Springfield, 45504, or to the . A celebration of Art's life will be held Friday June 13th from 6-8 pm at The Springfield Polo Club, 3644 Urbana Road, Springfield OH 45502. The family will hold a private burial. Arrangements handled by Conroy Funeral Home, 1660 E. High St.
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Published in Springfield News-Sun from June 11 to June 12, 2014
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