Errol ‘Sonny’ Wentzell

KEENE, N.H. — Errol "Sonny" Wentzell, 71, of Rangeley, (ME) passed away with his family by his side on Jan. 26, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born Dec. 15, 1939, in Rumford, the son of Errol and Effie Wentzell. He grew up in Rangeley and graduated from Rangeley High School in 1957. Errol attended the University of Maine at Farmington and later earned a degree from Hesser College.

Errol served in the Army for two years, and in the Navy for six years, serving as a communications technician and cryptologist during the Vietnam war. Over the course of his Navy service, he was stationed in Adak, Alaska, Morroco, Maryland, and aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal.

After his Navy discharge, Errol began a long and successful career in the computer industry, working at firms in Masschusetts, and New Hampshire, including RCA, Ion Physics, Sanders and ComputerVision. This work allowed him to visit a number of interesting places around the world, including cities in Asia, Australia, Europe and throughout the U.S.

Errol was able to pursue several career ambitions during his life, including real estate, small business ownership and eventually insurance sales. He worked for Prudential, and for the last 14 years he was with Allstate, where he enjoyed working with colleagues and customers throughout Maine.

Errol married his wife of 46 years, Terri (Moger) Wentzell in 1964, and they especially enjoyed the time they spent traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada, Europe and most recently to the west coast of Florida, where they spent two winters.

Some of their favorite destinations included Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, where his parents were born and Germany, where many of his ancestors orginated. Errol’s love of travel was eclipsed only by his love of family, and he was never happier than when planning and taking trips with his wife and children.

Errol enjoyed golfing, geneology, hunting, birding and exploring outdoor destinations, as well as a competitive game of cards and a good scotch. Errol was a member of Kora Shrine, Kemankeag Lodge, and a 40-year member of the American Legion in New Hampshire and Maine.