John Nagel

1944 - 2025

John William Nagel, age 81, went to a beautiful life in Heaven on his birthday September 11, 2025 after having lived an incredible life of love and family. John was born September 11, 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a son of the late William Taylor and Rita Prendergast Nagel. John grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended Notre Dame High School. He attended Belmont Abbey and Guilford College before beginning his career in Real Estate and Homebuilding working for Kavanaugh Smith Company in Greensboro and later Westminster Company where he served as Vice President for many years in Winston Salem. He was dedicated to his work and often expressed how honored he was to have helped so many families achieve the important step of home ownership. Later in his career he owned Century 21 Prime Properties. He held a Brokers License for 57 years and he received the Realtor Emeritus Status from the Winston Salem Association of Realtors after 40 years. John was devoted to his family as a loving husband and father. He loved celebrating all sorts of special occasions with a meal and heartfelt blessing with as many in attendance as possible. Everyone including friends and family looked forward to his masterful storytelling which often chronicled feats and triumphs of the past with sentiment and laughter.

John was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 449 for nearly 60 years. He looked forward to playing cards there with friends and playing golf. One of his most endearing habits was the way he gave loved ones special nicknames. It wasn't unusual at all for him to refer to Chrissybelle, the Giants, Catrina, Moose or Mosquito, Bennyboy, Lucas, Little O, Gigi or Banana. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson Thomas Hampton and brothers Sam Nagel and Conrad Nagel. John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Marus Nagel of the home; his children and their families: Rita Morgan and her daughters Martha Morgan and Sarah Kate Morgan of Winston Salem NC; John Nagel Jr., his wife Teresa Nagel and their daughters Anna Nagel and Emma Nagel of Winston Salem NC; Chrissy Hampton, her husband Tracy Hampton and their sons William Hampton and Matthew Hampton of Colfax NC; Cathy Pearce, her husband Keith Pearce of Wilson NC, and their children Luke Pearce and fiancée Grace Frary of Bellevue, WA, Benjamin Pearce of Wilson NC, and Olivia Pearce of Atlantic Beach NC. He is also survived by his brother Paul Nagel and his wife Carol Nagel of Colfax, NC.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Kate B Reynolds Hospice House are encouraged.