Gordon ‘Gordy’ Nagel, 88

Sept. 9, 1932 —

April 13, 2021

 

LIME SPRINGS - Gordon ‘Gordy’ LuVerne Nagel, age 88, of Lime Springs, Iowa, passed away in the home that he was born, on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, surrounded by his family after a short battle with cancer. 

It was Gordy’s wish not to have any type of funeral service and to remember him for the person he was. Please send memorials, ‘In Memory of Gordon Nagel’, to Howard County Community Hospice, 235 8th Ave. W., Cresco, IA 52136.

Gordon was born on Sept. 9, 1932 and farmed with his father. At the age of 21, he spent two years in the Army during the Korean War. After his discharge, Gordy married Janet Topness of Lanesboro, Minn. and they bought the home farm from his dad. They had three children and were later divorced. 

Gordy was a great friend and neighbor. He grew up next to the Upper Iowa River, but nobody can remember even one time seeing him pick up a fishing pole. Early in his life, his passion was horses. Family can’t begin to count how many horses he had throughout the years. He loved breaking, riding and training, especially his draft horses. It was not uncommon to drive by his farm in the winter and see the draft horses hitched up in front of his sleigh manure spreader by the barn, while his tractor sat in the shed. 

Gordy also raised peacocks, and people from the surrounding area would take a Granger, Minn. road trip to see them. He enjoyed snowmobiling and going dancing at the Playmore Ballroom in Rochester, Minn. 

Gordy also had an obsession with billy goats. It was not uncommon for him to borrow them from a neighbor, and they would somehow end up tied to a neighbor’s tree/post or the Granger school flag pole. He was the instigator of many pranks in the neighborhood. 

Gordy attended the annual meetings at the Ponderosa, where his family believes he was deer hunting, but there may have been other activities there. He also hosted Sunday morning coffee services with the neighbors and Friday date night with longtime friend, Irene Aarre of Preston.

Later in life, Gordy purchased a brand new four-wheeler. He would make his daily trip around the farm and then proceed to his neighborhood watch duties — it’s well-noted by the 12,060 miles he put on. To put that in perspective, he drove across the United States east to west four times. It didn’t matter where you were, and you may not have even seen Gordy, but you knew he was there, because of the famous ‘Nagel Laugh.’ 

He was a great dad. He taught his kids to be independent, respect your elders, and if you want things in your life, you have to get your hands dirty and work for it. 

Gordy was a great grandpa. He loved it when his grandkids would come to visit. He always had snacks/treats and would play with them on the floor and/or take them for a four-wheeler ride down by the river. His favorite activity was to hold them tight in his lap. 

Gordon is survived by his three children, Jerry (Deb) Nagel of Cresco, Iowa, Cindy (Mike) Mayfield of Cresco and Tammy Harvey of Ridgeway, Iowa; five grandchildren, Joey (Mckenzie) Dietzenbach of Cresco, Sami (Robert) Rinnels of Cresco, Chance Rodenz of Lime Springs, Jett (Cheyenne) Rodenz of Ridgeway and John (Emily) Kilcoyne of Ankeny, Iowa; five great-grandchildren, Leah Rinnels, Kaylee Rinnels, Rowen Rodenz, Franklin Kilcoyne and one on the way; a brother, George (Diane) Nagel of Stewartville, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, Leona Nagel of Spring Valley, Minn. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Marie Nagel; two brothers, Russell Nagel of Harmony, Minn. and Newton (Deloris) Nagel of Rochester; two sisters; Eunice (Charlie) Winter of Wykoff, Minn. and Frankie (Elmer) Kratz of Miami, Fla.; two nephews, Gary (Cheryl) Nagel of Red Wing, Minn. and Kirk Kratz of Miami; and a niece, Nancy Kratz of Miami. 

Lindstrom Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.