Harold Louis Gegel

Harold L. Gegel (Hal) was born in St. Louis, MO on January 30,1933, the son of Harold B. Gegel and Irene Bollmeier Gegel. He grew up in the small town of Marissa, Illinois amongst a large extended family. There he graduated from Marissa Township High School in 1950. He graduated from the University of Illinois Metallurgical Engineering class in 1955 and went to work in Dayton, Ohio at General Motors, the Frigidaire Division as a metallurgical engineer. He served in the Air Force from 1956 to 1959 as an Air Force officer and a metallurgist in the Air Force Materials Laboratory, Wright Air Development Center. He achieved the rank of Captain and then entered the Air Force Reserve, where he stayed as a Captain until 1972. It was during this time he met Sonja Okeson, the love of his life and married her in July of 1957. After active military duty he went to work as a civilian at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in a similar role as a metallurgist, but as a Senior Scientist. He received his doctorate degree from The Ohio State University in 1965. He retired from Wright Patterson in 1988 and went to work for UES where he stayed until 1998. He received a Distinguished Life Member award from the American Society of Metals in 2004. Throughout his retirement he was a volunteer naturalist for Five Rivers Metro Parks and stayed active with David’s Church for many years.

Hal and Sonja have three daughters, Karen Gegel Sideris, Lisa Gegel McDaniel and Gretchen Gegel Pribula. Karen married George Sideris. Lisa married Dennis McDaniel and had two sons, Drew Mc Daniel and Tyler McDaniel. Gretchen married Jim Pribula and has two daughters, Kirsten Pribula and Keri Beth Pribula. Grandson Drew McDaniel married Kristen Keenan and they have one daughter, Madeline Lisa McDaniel. Grandson Tyler McDaniel married Jenna Keenan and they have one daughter, Brynn McDaniel. Yes, both brothers married sisters.

Hal was preceded in death by his parents, Harold B. Gegel and Irene Gegel, and his daughter, Lisa McDaniel.

Hal died on December 5, 2021. His positive outlook and strength are an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed.