Romayne "Mike" Raymond Emmel Obituary (1935 - 2022)

Romayne "Mike" Raymond Emmel, age 86, of Prairie City, Oregon entered into Heaven on May 24th, 2022 at his home with his loving family by his side. A graveside service was held Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Prairie City Cemetery with Pastor Dave Hoeffner officiating. A reception followed at the Prairie City Teen Center. Mike was born November 16, 1935, in Clearbrook, Minnesota to Walter and Lena (Wisdahl) Emmel. He attended grade school in Clearbrook, then the family relocated to Kenmare, North Dakota where he attended middle school. He went on to high school in Kingfisher, Oklahoma where he completed through the 10th grade. Mike always had an interest in turning wrenches so he spent 2 years at A&M Tech studying Diesel Mechanics in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In September of 1955, Mike entered the US Army. He was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany, and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant 4 in the 95th Engineering Battalion Motor Pool. On July 3, 1960, Mike married Winona "Helen" Satterfield in Social Circle, Georgia. The young couple began their long and wonderful union as self-employed ranchers that year. He truly loved the ranch life and only partially retired in 2016. Mike was very active in his community. He was a member of the Brick Store Community Club, the First Baptist Church of Social Circle, GA where he served as a Sunday School Teacher and as an Ordained Deacon. When he moved to Prairie City, he became a member of the Prairie Baptist Church from 1970 to 2022 where he had also served as a Sunday School Teacher and Deacon. He served on the Prairie City School Board for 8 years, the Prairie City Rural Fire Dept. for a year and was a Prairie City FFA Alumni from 1982 to 2022. He enjoyed working cattle and studying the Breeding Genetics and Confirmation of Cattle. He even became Artificial Insemination Certified in both Georgia and Oregon. Mike was a very talented man. He once built 7 chicken houses for 40,000 laying hens. He also built their family home on the ranch using materials from the Bates Gymnasium. When he wasn't ranching or building, he could usually be found working on machinery, hunting, or fishing. Mike is survived by his wife Helen Emmel and brother Wayne Emmel of Prairie City, and 3 children; Darrell Emmel, Denise Harmon, and Douglas Emmel, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter & Lena Emmel and their youngest son, David Lewis Emmel. Mike's family would like memorial contributions made to Merek Kmiek, the Prairie City Teen Center, or to the Prairie Baptist Church through Driskill Memorial Chapel at 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, Oregon 97845.