Obituary of Michael H. Pagel

Michael H. "Mike� Pagel, 56, of Muscatine, died Sunday, October 30, 2005, at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, as a result of injuries sustained from an accident September 29. Services celebrating Mike�s life will be Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services. John Merritt of Faith United Church will officiate. Casketbearers will be Terry Peterson, Jerry Thompson, Mike Harbison, Kerry Maxwell, Don Paul, David Paul, Nate Pagel, Eric Pagel and Chris Pagel. Honorary casketbearers will be John Littrel, Mikey Harbison, Terry Ward and Don Reed. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Following the interment, a time of food and fellowship will be held in the Community Room at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Home for Funeral & Cremation Services. Visitation for Mike will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home. A memory board will be available for anyone wishing to post a favorite story, picture or momento of Mike. There will also be a time to share memories during the services. Memorials may be directed to the Muscatine Humane Society or the Burn Unit at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Mike�s name. Sympathy notes may be left for the Pagel family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com. Michael H. Pagel was born June 12, 1949 in Muscatine the son of Hermann A. and Palma J. Powell Pagel. On May 1, 1971 Mike was united in marriage to Nancy Paul in Muscatine. He graduated from Muscatine High School in 1967 and Muscatine Community College in 1969. Mike served in the Army Reserves as a combat engineer. He semi-retired in 2000 after driving over the road trucks for 30 years. Mike was a founding member of the Heartland Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society, serving as its president since its formation. The Chapter�s newsletter, Vintage Reflections, was created, named and published by Mike. He was a tireless volunteer at the Muscatine Humane Society and took great pride in mowing and trimming the shelter�s grounds to perfection. Mike loved animals and music and had a passion for and incredible knowledge of anything related to trucks. He enjoyed decorating the house inside and outside for Christmas and setting up the snow village scene for all to enjoy. Mike loved life and had a kind and generous heart, a wonderful smile and laugh, and a terrific sense of humor. He was talented in many ways and extremely resourceful as anyone who happened to ask him to find something will attest. He was the kind of man who didn�t need a special occasion to give his wife flowers or gifts. Mike will be greatly missed by his wife, Nancy, of Muscatine; one brother, Pat Pagel and his wife, Caleen, of Muscatine; nephews Chris, Nate and Eric Pagel and Dave Paul, many, many friends from all walks of life, and two very special dogs, Baron and Willoughby. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hermann and Palma in 2004 and an infant brother, Henry Lee Pagel.