Funeral services for Loren Pagels, age 85 of West Point, NE will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in West Point, NE. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from noon till 8 p.m., with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Minnick Funeral Home in West Point and will continue on Saturday from 9 a.m. till service time at the church. Relatives and friends can leave online condolences on Loren’s Book of Memories at www.kuzelka-minnickfuneralhomes.com. The family suggests memorials to St. Paul Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran School both in West Point, NE.

Loren passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point, NE.

Loren Alfred Pagels was born September 18, 1925 at Bancroft, NE to Alfred and Mamie (Benne) Pagels. He was baptized on October 11, 1925 and later confirmed on April 2, 1939 at Grace Lutheran Church in West Point, NE by Pastor W.A. Klink. Loren attended several country schools and in November of 2000 he received his GED diploma from West Point High School. On November 27, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged on June 9, 1946 with the rank of a Gunners Mate 3rd Class. On July 24, 1947, he was united in marriage to Norma Walraven at Papillion, NE and to this union five children were born Nancy, Lynn, Diane, Susan and Barbara.

Loren and Norma worked at the Mead Ordinance Plant during the Korean Conflict. Loren did maintenance at the plant that made bombs, rockets, and shells. He later worked for Schmitty’s Gravel, Grain States Soya, Sellentin Ready Mix, and Gerholdt’s Ready Mix as a maintenance man, retiring in 1989. Loren could be found on his Ford tractor plowing and tilling gardens and sandy beaches. He was a life member of the American Legion Post #70 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4912 of West Point and Disabled American Veterans. Loren was a former member of the West Point Volunteer Fire Department for 26 years. Loren and Norma spent 21 winters at Harlingen, TX and South Padre Island, TX. They traveled to several Navy reunions and continued to keep in contact with several Navy buddies.

Loren enjoyed working with his hands doing gardening, fishing and repairing engines and Ford tractors. He also enjoyed bird watching. Loren was an avid pool player and for the last nine years, and organized a pool league known as the Willow Street Pool Players, and they called themselves the Sharks. His family was very important to him and he loved family reunions. The entire family enjoyed a three day family reunion over this last 4th of July.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years Norma of West Point, daughter- Nancy and husband Dick Reppert of West Point, son-Lynn Pagels of Colleyville, TX, daughter-Diane and husband Bob Greckel of Coppell, TX, daughter-Susan and husband Greg Molina of Richardson, TX, and daughter-Barbara and husband Clint Poppe of Lincoln, NE. There are 14 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren-Chad Reppert; Kari and husband Ryan Penrose and children-Riley and Peyton; Kelly and husband Bob Leeper and daughter Zoey; Brian Reppert; Becky and husband Mick McGee and sons-Josh, Cody, Austin and Brent; Molly Pagels; Rachel Pagels; Melissa Greckel; Angie and husband John Arthur; Amy and husband Sean Coffey and twin sons Carter and Luke; Adam Poppe and sons Derek and Jacob; John Poppe and wife Shawna and son Jaxson; Clint Poppe, Jr; Connor Molina, and Loren was looking forward to meeting his two future great grandchildren to be born in December. He is also survived by a sister- Elveria and husband Butch Thietje of West Point, NE.

Loren was preceded in death by his parents and a sister-Delores Meyer.