Robert Gale Yagel, age 91 years and 20 days, went to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, July 16, 2020. He was born on June 26, 1929 in Brookfield, Missouri to Milton Constantine Yagel and Lela Harriet Carr Yagel. He graduated from Brookfield High School in 1947 and then studied at the University of California – Berkeley before joining the Army Air Corp on July 1, 1949 and retired from active duty on August 17, 1958. He immediately began working for the Department of Defense as a civilian until September 14, 1966. He was a highly skilled aircraft mechanic working on a vast variety of American and German aircrafts.
During his active duty military career, while stationed at Barksdale Airforce Base, he met and married the love of his life, Dorothy Margene Arnold on May 6, 1951. They were married for 69 years and 71 days, an extreme rarity this day and age. Bob began a second career as a civil service employee at Barksdale Air Force Base working on the flight line and then managing the auto hobby shop before joining the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department overseeing trustees in the automotive maintenance department until his final retirement in 1993.
Bob was a member of Beulah Land Baptist Church, a lifelong member and a past Master of the Haughton Masonic Lodge No. 95, and a previous member of the El Karubah Shriners in Shreveport. He had a passion for leading others to Christ, farming and animals, and his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Milton Lee Yagel and Thomas Edwin Yagel, his sister Connie Yagel Amerine, grandson James “JimBo” Otwell, and son-in-love John Keith Morton.
Bob is survived by his wife, Margene Yagel; 3 daughters: Gail (James) Bennett; Patty (Eugene) Battlefield-Rowe; and Marlene Morton; 4 Grandchildren: Misty (Alvin) Whitlock; Gary (Becky) Battlefield, Jr.; Ryan (Crystal) Battlefield; and Sgt. Cheyenne Haskins. 9 Great-grandchildren: Lang Vowell, Valerie Yocom, Dalton Yocom, Charlie Yocom, Lynnleigh Otwell, Zeauxy Otwell, Lacey Battlefield, Gage Battlefield, and Lainey Battlefield. Special Nephew Milton Raymond Yagel and Great Nephews Milton Alan Yagel and Mason Lee Yagel as well as additional nieces, nephews, and adopted family members…if Bob considered you a friend you were automatically adopted into his family!
Celebration of Life will be on Monday, July 20, 2020 with visitation at 1:00 pm and service at 2:00 pm with burial to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery. Officiating will be Bro. Harrell Shelton and Bro. Chad Mills. Pallbearers: Patrick “Allowishes” Arnold, Gary Ray Battlefield, Jr., Gilbert Ryan Battlefield, Alvin Whitlock, Lang Edward Vowell, and Gage Ryan Battlefield. Honorary Pallbearers: 1SG (Retired) Milton Raymond Yagel, Mack “Mickey” Teutsch, Harvel James “Killer” Bennett, William “Shorty” Frazier, and Paul Patton.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home, especially Hayley McLeod and Earnestine Mack, for their dedication, love, and care they showed to Daddy for the 2 years and 6 days in which he lived at the facility. We would also like to thank Dr. Ted Warren and his staff for the many years of medical service to our Daddy; as well as the staff Christus Hospice for their care during his final days.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Beulah Land Baptist Church – Vision 2020 Building Fund at 3179 Sligo Road, Haughton, LA 71037.
