Russel “Mike” Walter Pagel, the son of Walter C. and Phyllis Gertrude Kohlmeyer Pagel, was born August 25, 1929 in rural Fayette County, Iowa. He was baptized May 25, 1930 and confirmed July 27, 1941 at the Union Evangelical United Brethren Church, rural Sumner, Iowa. He attended country school and graduated from Sumner High School in 1947. During high school, Russel was the 1946 Upper Iowa Conference Outstanding Defensive Player in football. He also lettered in baseball and later played on the Westgate Softball Team where he was known as one of the “Gold Dust Twins.”

Russel enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 1951. He served aboard the patrol frigate, the U.S.S. Bayonne, during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in May of 1952.

Russell was united in marriage with Joan Elaine Thompson on June 15, 1952. She preceded him in death on June 16, 1980. Russell was then united in marriage with Linda Jane Miles on December 30, 1981.

Russel started farming in 1952. In the late ‘50’s he purchased the family farm from Frank Hardy in a 50/50 partnership. Mr. Hardy supplied 12 Guernsey cows and Russel’s parents gave him 12 Holstein cows and 12 sows to get started farming.

In 1955, Russel was given the Outstanding Young Farmer Award by the Oelwein Junior Chamber of Commerce. He was the Iowa Distinguished Dairyman in 1977 and the Fayette County Distinguished Dairyman in 1978. Since 1975 the dairy herd has been one of the top producing in the state of Iowa. His herd, Regel Dairy, was the top producer in 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981 and the top fat producer for five consecutive years, 1977-1981. Current herd production is at 27,923 lbs., 1074 fat, and 891 protein. The Pagel Herd has been the recipient of the National Progressive Breeder Registry for 15 years. Russel has been a Director of AMPI for over 25 years and has been a member of the county and state DHIA Boards.

Russel’s death occurred Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after a sudden illness. He was seventy years old.

Russel was a member of the United Methodist Church since 1973 and has served on many committees. He was a former member of Union United Methodist Church, rural Sumner, where he was the Sunday Superintendent and a Sunday School Teacher. Russel enjoyed raising miniature horses, hunting (deer and pheasants), showing cattle, 4-H and socializing.

Russel is survived by his wife, Linda of Sumner; his family, Deborah and Dave Benton and family, Keith and Chad of Neenah, Wise.; Michael and Jody Pagel of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Gregory and Peggy Pagel and family of Sumner; Natalie and David Steenson and family of Des Moines, Iowa; Jeffery Miles of Marion, Iowa; and Joel and Amy Pagel and family of Sumner; four brothers and five sisters-yi-law, Pe^gy J^gel, fjonald^apiLLlonna Pagel, Albert and Jean Pagel,^ugust and Joyce. Pagel, Roger Pagel, and Diane Page), all of Sumner; His mother-in-law, Ella Miles of Riceville; and many special family members and friends.

Russel was preceded in death by his wife, Joan, his parents; one daughter, Theresa, who died in 1956; and two brothers, Lyle in 1953 and Duane in 1999.

Source: Riceville Recorder Feb. 17, 2000 from the Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee, Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the web by Bill Waters