Daniel Schinkel

Daniel Leo Schinkel, 88, of Rawlins passed away September 18, 2017. He was born January 21, 1929 in Dodge, Nebraska, to Leon & Alice (Havelka) Schinkel. He was raised in Medicine Bow, WY where he graduated from high school in 1946 with the class size of two. After high school, he joined the United States Army and was deployed to Germany in 1951 during the Korean War as part of the 94th AAA battalion "Hell on Wheels". He returned home as a Sergeant two years later and remained in active reserve for five years. In 1954, he married the love of his life, Lauralee "Lolly" Harnden. They moved to Laramie, Wyoming where he attended the University of Wyoming and they started their family. A job offering came about in Carbon County, so he moved his family to Rawlins, where he was employed as a shop foreman for the Carbon County Road & Bridge Department. During this time and with the help of his family, he purchased trucks from the state surplus and built fire trucks, thus starting the Carbon County Fire Department in 1958. The members of the fire department included his own family and Carbon County Road and Bridge employees. Later he moved the CCFD to the present location. He also initiated the firefighters pension plan. During elections, Dan would prepare and maintain all the voting machines for Carbon County. He retired from the Carbon County Fire Department in 1993 as an Honorary Member after 35 years of service. During all these years of service, Dan also wore the hat of Carbon County Fire Warden. Dan was a member of the City of Rawlins Fire Department from 1962-1981 when he retired. He was recognized as an Honorary Life Member for his 19 years of outstanding service. Dan was also employed by the US Postal Service from 1973 to 1991 when he retired. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge #609, VFW Post #2311 and American Legion Post #122. He was also Assistant Scout Master for the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Troop 156. He was a member of Bill Engstrom's Dixieland Band in which he played the drums & trombone. The band played every Saturday night at The Old Baldy Club for 17 years, along with all of their other gigs. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with his family in the wide-open spaces of Wonderful Wyoming and working with his best friend, Chuck Ogburn. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lauralee "Lolly"; son, Eddie Joe (Twana) Schinkel of Rawlins; son, Kerry Schinkel of Rawlins; daughter, Danette (Tom) Toth of Elk Mountain; grandchildren, Daniel Neuman of Rawlins, Rory Neuman of Elk Mountain, Travis (Jessica) Schinkel of Rawlins, Joelyn Schinkel (Kevin Cook) of Baggs, Kerry Ray Schinkel, II of Laramie, Danielle (Troy) Wilcox of Rawlins and Mike McVay (Sammie Williams) of Rawlins; eight great-grandchildren; and De Shann Schinkel of Rawlins. Services will be held on Friday, September 22, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at the Jacoby Funeral Home, 702 W. Walnut St. Interment with military honors will follow in the Rawlins Cemetery. A celebration of life will immediately follow the service at the Rawlins Elks BPOE #609 Lodge, 403 W. Buffalo St. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dan's honor are welcomed by the Carbon County Fire Fighters, P.O. Box 754, Rawlins, WY 82301.

Service

Friday, September 22, 2017 10:00am

Interment

Rawlins Cemetery

915 Third St.

RAWLINS, WY