Obituary of Alton Gemmel

Alton N. Gemmel, 93, a lifelong resident of Poughkeepsie, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. He was a former President of the Congregation of St. John's Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie, the American Institute of Banking, Poughkeepsie Chapter; the Council of Church Brotherhoods, Poughkeepsie. He was a former Treasurer of the Dutchess Interfaith Council and Data Processing Management Association. He was also a former Auditor for the United Way of Dutchess County and the Dutchess Interfaith Council. In 1981, Alton and his wife, Dorothy were recognized for their many years of volunteer service with the Unite Way of Dutchess County. In January of 1981, he contacted the Dutchess County Office of the Aging to provide Income Tax Counseling for the Elderly. Three years later this service was greatly expanded to include AARP and the Internal Revenue Service which organizations provided Instruction materials and other support for the program. Tax counseling for the Elderly now covers all of Dutchess using many volunteer tax advisors. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force, 7th Air Force, in the Pacific Theater of Operations in Hawaii and Saipan. He was a very active member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Born in Poughkeepsie on Dec. 12, 1915, he was the son of William M. and Anna H. Heller Gemmel. He graduated from Poughkeepsie High School in 1933, the Poughkeepsie Business Institute in 1934 and Dutchess Community College in 1967. On May 14, 1949 he married Dorothy T. Traupel. Dorothy predeceased him. He is survived by a brother, Donald R. Gemmel of Hernando Beach, FL; his setp sisters, Elizabeth Hardinge of Poughkeepsie; Dorothy Schwarz of LaGrangeville; Janet Baker of Pleasant Valley and Grace Kuiper of Pennsylvania. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his sister, Bernice, two brothers, Wilfred and Howard and a sister-in-law, H. Edna Tompkins. All were drawn to Alton, a gentle man with a welcoming smile. His core strength came from his deep faith, and his love of family and friends. As a long time member of St. John's Lutheran Church, he served on nearly every committee a well as being Council President several times. His photography skills were award winning and provided joy to many. Everyone is asked to gather at St. John's Lutheran Church, Wilbur Blvd., on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 at 10 a.m. so that we can proceed to Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery for a 10:30 Service at the Grave. Following Graveside Services there will be a Memorial Service at St. John's Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie.