Stephen Edward Pagel was born October 11, 1946, to Edward and Juanita Pagel in Reedsburg, WI. He grew up in Wonewoc and graduated from Wonewoc-Center High School in 1964. Steve was very artistic and musical and was considered “the class clown.” In high school, he was in a folk-singing quartet -The Liberty Four -and they wrote and recorded a song, “Gonna Build Me a Castle.”
Steve attended Madison Area Technical College for 2 years after graduation and shortly after joined the US Army 2nd Infantry Division. He spent 13 months in Korea on the DMZ. Upon returning home, he married Jean Bauer in 1968. Steve and Jean had two children: Jeffrey in 1969 and Amy in 1974. They later divorced. Steve worked for Hy-Vee in Webster City, IA for many years. He later moved to Arizona, where he met Valerie Dunne, and they were married in 1989. Steve worked in sales, as that fit his outgoing, upbeat personality. He most recently worked at Southwest Mobility for 22 years as one of their go-to salesmen.
Steve had a strong faith in the Lord, and served on his church leadership board, sang in the choir, and played hand bells for many years. He had a huge heart for all children and contributed to the Shriner’s Hospital for Kids, Gideon’s International, and various other charities. He was a proud member of AA for 36 ½ years, a current member of the Masons, and the Donor Network of Arizona.
Steve succumbed to pancreatic cancer at his home in Mesa, AZ on May 18, 2022 with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Valerie, son Jeff (Angie) Pagel, daughter Amy (Doug) McCollough of Webster City, IA, and grandchildren Danielle (Devan) Berglund, Lance (Katie) Pagel, and Derek Krieger, all of Webster City, and Chloe (Garrett Ament) McCollough of Stratford; great- grandchildren Paislee, Hayden, Keira and Malachi, all of Webster City; 4 step-children, 7 step- grandchildren, and 2 step-great-grandchildren. He is further survived by his sisters, Kathy Jennings of Reedsburg, WI, Janice (Rodney) Seamans of La Valle, WI, Lois (Joe) Gerling of Viroqua, WI, and Ellen (Jeff) Weiland of Baraboo, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Kevin Jennings. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held at the Desert Chapel Church in Apache Junction, AZ on June 25, 2022. Internment with military honors will be held in Wonewoc, WI on August 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
