John L. "Jack" Tagel

John L. “Jack” Tagel, 64, of Grand Island, died Thursday, May 7, 2009, at the V.A. Medical Center in Omaha, after a lengthy battle with lung disease. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Jack Rademacher will officiate. Mr. Tagel’s body will be cremated following the services with a private family inurnment in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Tagel was born on Nov. 17, 1944, at Norfolk, the son of Ludwig V. and Loretta (Thramer) Tagel. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Theresa Tagel. He is survived by his wife, Pamela M.Tagel of Grand Island; one daughter and son-in-law, Stacia “Stacy” and Matthew McConnell of Hershey; two sons, Brent Tagel of Cotesfield and his special friend, Angie Drahota of Ravenna, and Travis Tagel and his fiancée, Lizzy Fay Hedglin of Grand Island; his father, Ludwig V. Tagel of Grand Island; one brother, Joe Tagel of Springfield; and one sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth “Beth” and Doug Schueth of Ewing. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Wyatt, Coy and Shayla McConnell, Dakota and Macy Tagel, and Kaylee Tagel; also Angie Drahota’s sons, Jack and Jesse Drahota; sister-in-law, Jane Brozek and her husband, Edward of Sun City, AZ; and brother-in-law, Mark Volkl of Grand Island. Jack grew up on the family ranch south of Ewing, where he attended country schools in the area. He graduated from Ewing High School in 1964. He served in the Army National Guard from 1964 to 1965. He then returned to Ewing where he began driving truck for Hobbs Trucking. He later worked for B & B Construction in Aurora and then as a welder for Chief Industries in Grand Island. He was united in marriage to Pamela M. Volkl on Aug. 31, 1968, in Fairfax, SD. The couple first lived at Ewing, later moving to Colorado. In 1970, they moved to Grand Island where he worked as a truck driver for many local companies. In 1997, he began Tagel Trucking, which he owned and operated until 2007, when he sold the business. He was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 10387, American Legion Post 53 and the Platt-Duetsche, all of Grand Island. Jack enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, playing cards and dominoes, camping and NASCAR. He was always concerned about the welfare of others and loved helping people, whether they were family, friends or neighbors. In addition to his daughter, Theresa, he was preceded in death by his mother, Loretta Tagel;one sister, Marilyn “Jean” Opp; and his in-laws, Bernie & Ann Volkl. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.