State legislator, past president of the University of Kansas Alumni Association, a leader in the Kansas Bar, past president of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, holder of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Kansas School of Law, dedicated Republican leader — these outstanding accomplishments don’t begin to measure Howard “Tony” Immel, who died Wednesday morning at Windsor Place.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Rausch officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.
Immel’s potential as a political leader was recognized the day he graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1938 and became personal secretary of Gov. Payne Ratner.
Immel moved on to the legal department of the State Tax Commission. He became a special counsel to the Kansas Corporation Commission while Andy Shoeppel, who would soon be governor, was chairman.
He married Elizabeth R. (Sue) Reid and soon after, as a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy and a reserve officer, was called to active duty early in World War II. Sue stayed with her parents in Iola.
Immel served on the staff of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Allied Command. At the end of the war, he was discharged as a lieutenant colonel.
Immel returned to Iola, began his practice of law and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1948. He served four terms, then was elected to the Kansas Senate in 1956.
Immel was a charter member of Iola Industries, Inc. and served on its board of directors until his retirement. He also was chairman of the board of Allen County Hospital for many years and was an active participant in all of the Iola-building projects initiated during his long career. Among those was the creation of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, which many consider to be the most important of Iola’s cultural attractions.
As both a friend and attorney of Thomas H. Bowlus, Immel collaborated in writing Bowlus’ will which established the Bowlus Center, connected it with Iola schools and established a trust fund that continues to help maintain the center for the benefit of the public in general and USD 257 students in particular.
In additional to his other honors and accomplishments, Immel was a trustee of the University of Kansas Endowment Society and received the coveted Ellsworth Medallion in 1976 in recognition of his “unique and significant service to the university.” He was a past president of the Board of Governors of the KU School of Law.
Immel was born in Denver, Colo. on Aug. 29, 1915, the son of Ralph Waldo and Hazel (Seibel) Immel. Two brothers, Ralph and John, and a sister, Hazel, died earlier.
He is survived by his wife, Sue; two sons, John J. and his wife, Sheila, of Lawrence and James M. and his wife, Carol, of Iola; grandchildren Jay Reid Immel, James M. Immel, Jr., Jody Kaufman, Jamie Reid Turner and Jennifer Oldridge; and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Friends of the Bowlus or Wesley United Methodist Church.
Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapels are in charge of arrangements.
