Dr. James F. Wargel

He was born in Evansville, Indiana on October 9, 1947, to the late Charles F. and Olivia (Ritzert) Wargel. He attended high school and college at St. Meinrad Archabbey before earning two master's degrees from Indiana University in 1974 and 1975. He went on to earn a Doctor of Psychology degree from the University of Michigan in 1984 and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan in 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline Pegram-Wargel; his daughter, Carmen Wargel (Ryan Fringer); two grandchildren, Amelia Wargel-Fringer and Samuel Fringer, all of Beverly Hills, Michigan; two brothers: Charles (Beverly) Wargel of Saginaw, Michigan, and Tom (Rose Mary) Wargel of Louisville, Kentucky; two nieces, Jean Wargel and Emily Wargel, two nephews, Mike Wargel and Jeff Wargel; and very close family friends Paulette and Dr. Stephen Mancuso, Salvatore (Monica) Mancuso, Jan and Ralph Skinner, and Errin (Ben) Liell, their children, Piper and Reece. He was preceded in death by his brother, Father William Wargel.

Dr. Wargel believed in the dignity and worth of all human beings and directed his life's work in service of this value. He was a clinical psychologist who saw patients, performed psychological assessments, and served as a certified psychological medical expert through his private practice. Dr. Wargel also worked at Macomb County Community Mental Health Services for more than thirty years, retiring from his position as the Director of Behavioral Health Services in 2013. In addition, he served as Chair of the Social Science Department and served as a Professor of Psychology at St Mary's College in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

Memorial Visitation will be held Monday, June 22, 2026, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Pixley Funeral Home, 322 W. University Drive, Rochester. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. James F. Wargel Fund for Behavioral Health Services at MiSide in Detroit, Michigan.