Joseph Herman Pagel

His wife of 55 years, Willa M. Pagel, passed in 2006; He is survived by his sons, Craig L. Pagel, Jerry J. and Lynne Pagel, Harold W. and Tracy Pagel; Byron B. Pagel; his sister, Delores LeMay; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and many friends of the family.

Born the third of six children in Hewitt, Minnesota on April 1, 1920 to Otto and Della Pagel, Joe spent his early years on the family farm. Moving to Corcoran, California before his teenage years, Joe became an All-American high-school basketball player and entered the Navy after high school. He was a resident of Renton, WA for the final 68 years of his life.

He served in WWII as a Navy communications radio operator. Any significant time spent with Joe would have resulted in the telling of any number of great stories of wartime struggles and adventures. Returning home from war, Joe worked in a steel factory, as a home painter, and finally as an inspector for King County.

He loved working in his garden and creating decorative items in his workshop. Most of all he enjoyed weekends for many years until his wife passed away, staying in their cabin at Wash Away Beach located in North Cove WA where family, friends and neighbors were always welcome.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.