METHUEN — Carl Woekel Jr., a well-known local contractor and public servant, died Wednesday at the age of 80.
Woekel, who battled cancer, spent years as president of Carl Woekel and Son Inc., a family contracting business that spanned three generations. Until his death, he was vice chairman of the Nevins Memorial Library trustees. He had served as a national director for the Jaycees and was president of the Methuen Board of Trade. He also was a town councilor in the 1970s, serving as council president.
Woekel was part of the regular morning coffee crowd at Mann Orchards and he hailed from a family with a tradition of public service.
"Carl was an institution in Methuen," said Arthur Nicholson, a member of the Nevins Library trustees and a friend of Woekel. "He was an elected official who really tried to make sure that the needs of everybody were met."
"One of the nicest guys I've ever known," said Robert Vogler, a School Committee member and longtime friend of Woekel.
Vogler said Woekel was humble and low-key, yet intelligent and interested in helping the city. He was "a master craftsman" and oversaw the Nevins Library renovation that ended in 2002, Vogler said.
"He loved the library. He watched that construction of the library like a hawk," Vogler said.
"He was a valiant fighter against corruption and special interest control of town government and was of great assistance to me working with a 21-member council to relieve a $1.4 million budget deficit, restore the power of the town to bond for projects and the start of a comprehensive sewer and road rehabilitation construction program," former Town Manager Robert LeBlanc said in a statement.
"Carl served the town his entire adult life, most prominently on the Nevins Library Board of Trustees. Carl Woekel was a wonderful person who loved Methuen deeply, contributed much, was a profile in courage many times and left his mark as a symbol of professional stewardship of the public trust," LeBlanc added.
Woekel is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ruth, as well as several family members. He died at Caritas Holy Family Hospital, his obituary said.
There will be a wake Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St. The funeral is Monday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, with burial following at Elmwood Cemetery.
