Obituary: Phillip Martin Appel

July 22, 1931 ~ October 24, 2021

Phillip Martin Appel, 90, of the Town of Sevastopol, died in the comfort of his home, Sunday, October 24, 2021 with family at his side.

He was born July 22, 1931 in Sister Bay, the only child of Archie Maxwell Appel and Flora Lillian (Hoffner) Appel. Phil graduated from Gibraltar High School with the class of 1949. He married Nancy Pearl Schuyler at Calvary United Methodist Church in Egg Harbor on March 9, 1956. Phil completed training to become a Lincoln Mercury “Registered Mechanic” in 1959.

He was initially employed at Sister Bay Motors and then went to work for a service garage in Egg Harbor. Phil owned and operated his own service station, Cities Service in Sturgeon Bay at the corner of 4th Avenue and Kentucky Street and then eventually sold cars for Kessner Ford. He went to work for Dorco Manufacturing before establishing his own auto repair and body shop at home on Cherry Road. Phil taught body work classes at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College in Sturgeon Bay in the early 1980s.

He had a love for cars outside of “work” as well. Phil liked attending (and showing at) car shows all over – Hershey, Carlisle, and Iola just to name a few. He could have been a truckdriver with how effortless the long drives were for him – occasionally driving as much 1000 miles in a single day and traveling all over the country. Phil enjoyed fishing on North Bay in Baileys Harbor, off Lake Michigan and camping with his family.

He will be missed by his two sons and daughter, Jeffrey (Jean) Appel of Potomac Falls, VA, Daniel (friend, Koren Dolata) Appel of Bark River, MI, and Stephanie (Russell) Kutz of Oregon, WI; three grandchildren, Mary-Kate “MK” Appel (Jimmy) Butler, and Nathan and Archie Kutz; sisters-in-law, Grace Fellner of the Town of Sevastopol and Delores Schulyer of the Town of Clay Banks; special friend, Bonnie Nelson of the Town of Sevastopol, with whom he shared over 15 years with; nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and other relatives.

His life will be honored with a funeral service held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with Pastor David Leistra, of Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church, officiating. Phil will be laid to rest in Bayside Cemetery in the Town of Sevastopol, beside his wife, Nancy

Visitation for family and friends will be held at the funeral home from 2:00 pm. until the time of service.

At the request of the Appel family, those in attendance of the visitation and/or funeral service are kindly asked to wear a face mask.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Phil’s name for Unity (Hospice and Palliative Care) at 2366 Oak Ridge Circle, De Pere, WI 54115.

“Our family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Unity Hospice for the care and comfort they provided to Dad.”

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Phil may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.