Clark D. Pagel, 65

Dr. Clark D. Pagel, age 65, of Plover, died Sunday, July 31, 2022, at Meriter Hospital in Madison.

Clark was born on March 18, 1957, in Wausau, a son of Gerald and Joyce (Mathwich) Pagel. He attended and graduated from Wausau West High School in 1975. A superb athlete, he was recruited by several colleges to play football.

Clark received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from UW-Oshkosh, a master’s degree from Marion College in educational leadership, and his doctorate from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in educational leadership.

In 1978, at First English Lutheran Church in Wausau, Clark was married to his high school sweetheart, Donnell Hartwig. They were married for 44 wonderful years and adored each other.

In December 1979, Clark began his law enforcement career with the Stevens Point Police Department. After 10 years of being a police officer advancing to the positions of corporal, detective, and sergeant, he accepted a position at Mid-State Technical College in 1989 for their Law Enforcement Training Program.

As such, he served as their associate dean until his retirement in 2016, but his love for education brought him back for several more years.

Significant accomplishments of Clark’s include the development of the Law Enforcement Internship and the Police Recruit Academy, and he was honored as the State Law Enforcement Training Coordinator of the Year. Clark served as the President of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Training Officers Association (LETOA). Clark was instrumental in creating the Wisconsin Technical College System Justice Coordinators Council and served as Chair for many years. He was the training director of the Department of Justice Training and Standards Bureau up until his retirement.

Clark was also the official representative of the Law Enforcement Standards Board’s Curriculum Advisory Committee, providing input to the chief and sheriff members of the committee on improving and developing law enforcement training. In his 37-year career, Clark has directly influenced over 2,000 police officers, corrections officers, and juvenile detention officers.

In his free time, Clark enjoyed boating down the Wisconsin River, and various crafts including stained glass, woodworking, basket weaving, and more. He loved trying new recipes and cooking for his family was a great joy. His greatest love was being with family and his proudest moments were being a dad and a papa. He never missed a recital, game, or school event. The love that he had for them was unmatched and he was their whole world. He was known for his gigantic hugs and infectious smile.

Clark is survived by his wife, Donnell of Plover; his mother, Joyce of Wausau; children, Jessica (Chris) Platt of McFarland and Joshua Pagel of Plover; grandchildren, Tyler Pagel, Addison Miskowski, Brooklyn Pagel, Bode Miskowski, Brynley Pagel, Abbey, Ella, and Olivia Platt; two sisters, Sue Pagel and Lori (Dan) Brandt; nieces and nephews, Jason Brandt and Olivia (Adam) Grandlic; in-laws, Barb Hartwig, mother-in-law, the Walden Family, and his Texas Crew, the Littletons, Plaskets, Sanders and Simmons families.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald; and brother, Todd Pagel, father-in-law, Don Hartwig, and brother-in-law Ron Donham.

Clark was influential in the lives of so many people who loved him for his high level of integrity, positive personality, work ethic, dedication, loyalty, and sense of humor. He radiated kindness like sunshine and made us all better people for knowing him.

A Celebration of Life for Clark will be held at Woodlands Church, 190 Hoover Ave, Plover, Wis., 54467 on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at noon. Visitation will precede the service from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow.

A private family burial will be at Zion Cemetery, Town of Stettin, Wis.

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Clark’s name are encouraged to do so to the family. A Law Enforcement Scholarship, for students entering Mid-State Technical College, is being established.
Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the family.

For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.