Thell Naegle Obituary (1929

Thell Stillman Naegle who was born October 10, 1929, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2011, at the age of 81 from complications of diverticulitis. He was the third of four children born to George and Gertrude Naegle in Hurricane, Utah. As a young man, his family moved to Las Vegas where he forged many life-long friendships. He served an honorable mission to the Hawaiian Islands from 1949 to 1951. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in 1954, also completing the Air Force ROTC program, resulting in a commission as a 2nd Lt. in the USAF. He was a pilot for 22 years, accumulating 4500 hours of flight time. He retired as a command pilot with the rank of Major, having spent most of his career in the Air Rescue Services, including his favorite assignment with the Manned Space Flight Program in Cape Canaveral, Florida where he and his family developed a love for boating. He spent 14 months flying reconnaissance missions in Korea. After retirement, he and his family moved to Provo, Utah where he worked for 18 years at Central Bank and Trust and served as a Bishop of the Provo 19th Ward. Thell married Donna Mae Tanner on August 25, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple and will be remembered by his six loving children, Deanne Koecher (Rolf, deceased); David (Sandy Zahrt); George (Angela Valentine); Thell Jefferson “T.J” (Bonnie Abbott); DeNai Simmons (Jay) and John (Maggie Gardner). Thell was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother named George. He is survived by his wife Donna, his six children, and his two sisters Ferrel Naegle Paul and Marilyn Naegle Bradshaw. He leaves behind 20 adoring grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the Grandview 9th Ward Chapel, 1555 North 1350 West, Provo. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, Friday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. and at the church Saturday morning from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.bergmortuary.com. The family wishes to express its deepest love and appreciation to Jonathan Haws and Hospice nurses Dana and Beverly who each tenderly cared for Thell in his final months.