Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
William Jerome Nagle, 85, died March 11, 2016 at the Oregon Veterans Home with family at his side. He was born to Maurice and Doris Nagle on January 31, 1931 at LaCrosse, Wis., where he attended schools including St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, until enlisting in the U.S. Army at 17. After serving from 1948 to 1953 during the Korean War, he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant First Class, having refused a battlefield commission.
He and Barbara Evey were married in a Ft. Lewis Army base chapel July 4, 1953. Their children are Michael, The Dalles, Ore., and Pamela, Grants Pass, Ore. He is also survived by grandchildren Nicole (Brian) Cimmiyotti, Umatilla, Ore., Derek (Carmen) Nagle, Oakland, Calif.; Kyle Thompson, Grants Pass, Ore., Kristen Stafsholt, Eugene, Ore.; and great-grandchildren Evan Michael and Charleigh; niece Kay Evey, Seattle, Wash; nephew Tom Evey, Chicago, Ill.; sister-in-law, Pat Evey, Seattle, Wash.; and cousin Vaughn Trynowsky, LaCrosse, Wis.
Following his Army service, Bill worked for Columbia Aluminum in Montana, then moved his family to The Dalles where he was employed by Harvey Aluminum, Martin Marietta and Goldendale Aluminum as B shift supervisor.
He loved children, animals, chocolate, sports (especially Oregon State Beavers and Green Bay Packers), gardening (favorite flower the iris) and dancing. A fan of the outdoors, Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. Birds were attracted to him and he was often surprised by chickadees landing on him. Just preceding his death, family members watched a hawk land on a solider statue outside his room.
Bill was active in Ft. Dalles Riders and as president, successfully promoted resurrecting the Ft. Dalles Rodeo, held first at the Ft. Dalles Riders arena. He co-led a 4-H riding club, bred and trained quarter horses, and managed the Martin-Marietta Little League baseball team. He was a member of the Elks, Eagles and American Legion.
Following a family service, friends will be welcomed to a celebration of life and potluck at the Eagles Lodge Saturday, March 19, at 3 p.m. Memorials may be sent to Home at Last, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Portland or a favorite charity in his honor.
To plant a tree in memory of William Nagle as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
