MIDDLESEX TWP — Ray Soergel is remembered by friends for his honesty, service to the public and naturally helpful nature.

Soergel, 81, died Monday at his Cooperstown home.

Soergel served the township as a police officer and chief until his retirement in 1991.

He then was elected as a township supervisor, serving from 1991 to 2003.

Gary Dillner served with Soergel as a supervisor for four years. Dillner said the knowledge Soergel gained as a police officer for nearly 30 years helped immensely on the three-member board of supervisors.

“We should really be proud to have had the years of knowledge and experience that he gave us to help guide us into the future,” Dillner said.

He said Middlesex is a better place because of the devotion of Soergel.

“He was an integral part of the township for so many years,” Dillner said.

Ken Wakefield is a former Middlesex Township manager and a state trooper who worked with Soergel in both his capacities as a supervisor and police officer.

“He was a good police officer and man,” Wakefield said. “Ray was a straight-up guy. If he told you something, you knew that’s the way it was.”

He said he never heard anyone say a bad word about Soergel, even though he was known to almost everyone in the township.

When Wakefield was hired as township manager in the 1990s, Soergel was a supervisor.

“He was always, in his actions on the board, the same way as always: Very straightforward and very caring about not only running the township, but the community too.”

Bonnie Chappel, assistant to the township manager, worked in the same position when Soergel was a supervisor.

“He was very dedicated to the township,” Chappel said, “and he was an all-around great guy.”

Township resident Karen Callithen knew Soergel for several decades. She also remembered Soergel’s devotion to the township and its people.

“He was a good person in our township,” Callithen said. “When we needed him, he was always ready.”

She said her stories about her friend all have a common theme.

“He always seemed ready to help people,” Callithen said.

Soergel also was known for his marksmanship awards and his tenor singing voice.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Lee; a sister; three children; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Schellhaas Funeral Home in Bakerstown.