Galen John Pingel of Little Rock went home to be with the Lord Monday, March 13, 2023. Galen was born in Storm Lake, Iowa, on April 11, 1942. He was the son of Waldo John Pingel and Renata Gutz Pingel.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Vix Pingel; sisters, Karolyn Robbins and Corinne Bode; son, Jon Pingel and his wife Beth; son, Everett Ellis and his wife Ginny; daughter, Beth Lovins and her husband Ben; grandchildren, Michelle (Jon) Edgin, Samantha (Travis) Currier, Ashley (John) Mayer, Amy Lovins, Camryn Ellis, Henry Ellis, and Alex Watson.
Galen was raised on the family farm outside of Sioux Rapids, Iowa. His family grew corn and raised hogs, and he was proud to be a farm kid. He graduated high school in Sioux Rapids. Upon turning eighteen, Galen heeded the call to serve his country by joining the US Navy in active duty from 1961-1965. In the Navy, he specialized in security as a morse code operator. He served most of his time in Japan during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also served in Taiwan during the Vietnam War. Following his service, he attended DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago and earned an electronics associate’s degree. For thirty years, Galen traveled the roads of Arkansas and beyond as a nuclear medicine field service engineer with Siemens Medical Solutions. He serviced vital nuclear medicine equipment, which the hospital needed to save lives. He would also find many other ways beyond the scope of his job responsibilities to help others. Retirement did not slow Galen down. He stayed busy helping family, friends, and neighbors in any way he could. One didn’t even have to ask him for assistance because he was already anticipating ways to help.
Most days, you could find Galen tinkering in his workshop with his latest project. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and being outdoors. God gifted him with exceptional creativity and imagination, which he used to solve problems and help others. He could build anything. If something needed to be created; he would plan, build, deliver, and install it. If something was broken, you called Galen to fix the impossible. He was always helping a friend in need. Galen eagerly invested time in younger generations passing down life skills and valuable knowledge. Galen also had the ability never to meet a stranger. He could befriend anyone with a genuine caring conversation.
Foremost Galen loved the Lord and devoted time to the Word. His whole world on this Earth was his wife Karen, whom he adored. Before they were married, they agreed never to go to bed without praying together, and so they did for over 32 years. Galen lived for his family. He deeply loved each of his children, embraced each of their spouses, and delighted in each grandchild. His family was everything. Galen had a big personality, a contagious laugh, and a tender heart that leaves an immense void for those who loved him.
