Wisconsin Ag Connection - Longtime Ag Researcher, Tom Drendel, Passes

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Longtime Ag Researcher, Tom Drendel, Passes
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/18/2016

Funeral services will be held in Marshfield this week for Tom Drendel, the former superintendent of the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield Agricultural Research Station. Drendel died October 13 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 63.

A native of Arizona, Drendel came to UW-MARS in 1985 after working as an agricultural agent for UW-Extension in Marinette and Jefferson counties. After leaving the ag station in 2009, he joined the National Farm Medicine Center as an agricultural safety specialist working on the Wisconsin Dairy Workers Safety and Health Initiative. He also became Occupational Safety and Health Administration-certified in standards in general industry, confined space, hearing conservation, and a trainer for the general industry standard.

In 1980, he married Laura Oldenberg, who is a former Alice in Dairyland. Tom was also very active in his church, Rotary Club, Marshfield's Dairyfest committee and the Wisconsin Agri-Business Council.

For the past 15 years, Tom devoted time to his passion for the Civil War and became a member of the Civil War Trust, which allowed him to travel to many battlefields and study their history. He became a Civil War re-enactor, joining the 2nd Wisconsin, Company K as a private.

A memorial service for Tom Drendel will be held October 19 at Zion United Methodist Church in Marshfield. Friends may call the Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home in Marshfield on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. for a public visitation.

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