Walter Nagel

HETTINGER - Mass of Christian Burial for Walter P. Nagel, 75, will be at 10 a.m. MDT today, July 24, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hettinger. Fr. Joseph Chipson will officiate and Military Honors will be afforded by the Johnson-Melary American Legion Post No. 115. Inurnment at the Hettinger Cemetery will take place at a later date.

Visitation was held Friday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church and will be one hour prior to the service this morning. A rosary/wake was held Friday evening at the church.

Walter Peter Nagel was born Jan. 8, 1935, North of Haynes. He was the son of George and Margaret (Greff) Nagel. "Waldo," as he became known, grew up on the family farm four miles north of the junction in Haynes. He attended the one room Kansas City school until it closed at which time the students were bused to Haynes where he enjoyed playing on the baseball and basketball teams. He graduated from Haynes Public School in 1954. Waldo was drafted into the Army and served from 1958 to 1964. He worked in a variety of jobs including being an equipment operator at the Haynes Coal Mine, a mechanic at Northrup in California and Boeing in Washington, and a caulker at Premier Waterproofing in Colorado and North Dakota. While growing up he worked on the family farm with his dad and in 1967 he was able to purchase the farm. He spent the remaining years farming and raised cattle until his health began failing in the fall of 2009.

In October of every year, Waldo looked forward to having the pheasant hunters come to town and stay with him on the farm. Those weeks were filled with many highlights including good meals, late evenings in town, farm projects, visiting with good friends and family and reminiscing about the 'good old days.'

Waldo had a great love for animals throughout his entire lifetime; he would never turn a stray animal away. He took great joy in caring for each one that was lucky enough to have crossed paths with him.

"Waldo" Nagel passed away July 21, 2010, at his home in Hettinger. His sister and caregiver, Shirley Warbis was at his side and he was eternally grateful for all of her loving care and support.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his surviving brothers and sister-in-law Joseph and Juanita Nagel, Haynes; William and Esther Nagel, Mott; Leroy and Judy Nagel, Tea, S.D.; surviving sister, Shirley Warbis, Lake Stevens, Wash.; special friend and companion, Karen Kobilansky, Hettinger; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and his sister and brother-in-law, Ron and Rose Marie Vernon, Susanville, Calif.

Waldo was truly loved and will be missed by family, friends, neighbors and all of those stray animals!

Condolences to Waldo's family can be sent through our website at http://www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com/">www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com. (Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home, Hettinger)