Tony Ocel was born in Minneapolis, MN on January 17, 1927 in a house on Hiawatha Avenue. His father worked at the Minneapolis Milling Company just down the street bagging one hundred pound bags of flour.
Tony was the second child out of eleven and entered the Navy with his Mother’s consent. That was on his 17th birthday—January 17, 1944. He served 4 years sea duty and while on board ship he worked in the boiler room. He also illustrated the monthly newspaper on board whatever ship he happened to be assigned to. When his tour was finished he came home and began working for Sears and Roebuck where he met his future wife, Lucy Thiele. At that time he also passed his GED. He was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War (1950-1952), and when he came home he married Lucy on June 14, 1952.
Tony returned to Sears and Roebuck as a draftsman—designing and drafting full heating and air-conditioning systems for homes; he also drafted kitchens and bathrooms. Tony and Lucy eventually had five children. Working himself up to a Buyer/Manager position he remained at Sears until 1976 when the company headquarters moved to Chicago; Tony wished to remain in Minneapolis and began working for his brother’s tool-and-die company (Production Parts). During this time he designed a “pill-crusher” for another brother who owned a medical supply company (Ocelco) and drew images for the medical supply catalogue.
Tony and Lucy moved to the Winter Haven/Lake Wales area of Florida in 1997 after Lucy suffered a heart-attack and stroke in 1996 and they no longer wished to live thru another Minnesota winter. Once in Florida, Tony decided to turn his carport into a woodworking area and began making hand painted WWII model airplanes out of white pine to give away to children at Christmas time. He then started to paint landscapes and WWII battle scenes on cardboard using house paints. Many of the ships he depicts in his paintings were the ships he served on during his Navy years. He also makes his own frames and occasionally uses collage. In 2010 he had a small showing at the library in Lake Wales and another at the library in Winter Haven.
Tony is now 87 years old and still lives in Florida. His wife, Lucy, is now in an assisted living center in Winter Haven. He visits her twice a day.
Air Force Series 01
Air Force Series 02
Air Force Series 03
Air Force Series 04
Air Force Series 05
Air Force Series 06
Air Force Series 07
Darkness
Falling
Forest
By the River
Volcano
Soldier
Captain