Kenneth H Nagel

December 7, 1940 - June 7, 2017

NAGEL, Kenneth H. Kenneth H. Nagel of North Tonawanda, passed away at ECMC, June 7, 2017, following a fall and head injury. Mr. Nagel is a retired North Tonawanda Public School teacher, who taught grades 3-6 at Gratwick, Col. Payne, and Grant Schools from !962 until he retired in 1997. He was listed multiple times in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and received the WNY Golden Apple Award for teaching in 1993. After he retired, he often substituted in WNY Lutheran Schools, taught science demonstration lessons dressed as Johnny Appleseed. He also visited classsrooms dressed as a Jester who played the snare drum, and read books to classes, as a guest teacher, on April Fools Day. In recent years, he has assisted with the Summer Program for the percussion section of the Mount St. Mary Academy All Girls Marching Band in Kenmore. He was interested in carpentry and wood carving and was an active member of the St. Paul Choir. Because of his love for music, he began the new hobby of taking piano lessons at age 65. He enjoyed taking the wood carving classes at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. Through the years, he was a member of the Tonawanda High School Band, New York State Concert Band, Buffalo State College Band, Continental Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Tonawanda Original Clown Band. He was a member of the percussion section of the Post 264 National Championship American Legion Band of the Tonawandas for more than 50 years and was the Chairman of their Board for several years. He was the son of the late Howard Earl and Gladys Helen (nee Strade). Kenneth was the beloved husband for 53 years of Kathleen Elaine (nee Peters); devoted father of Tristan Elaine (late Rev. Lester) D’Angelo, and Devin Kenneth (DawnMarie) Nagel; proud and loving grandfather of the late Tyler Scott D’Angelo, Petrina Elaine D’Angelo, Mason Devin Nagel, Colin Epifanio Nagel; beloved brother of Joan Ruth (late Donald Frank) Garlapo; loving godfather of Jeanette Bristol (Michael) Medrick, and his nephew Jeremy Matthew (Renee) Peters; also survived by nieces Ruth Musser (Richard) Linneborn and Elizabeth Musser (Edward Rieger) Ryan, Alison (Adam) VanHorn and their families; also honorary grandfather of Kristian and Thomas Haeussler and Matthew Newman. Visitation Saturday 6-8 PM, and Sunday 1-3 and 6-8 PM in the WATTENGEL FUNERAL HOME, 533 Meadow Dr., North Tonawada. The funeral will be Monday morning at 11:00 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 453 Old Falls Blvd, North Tonawanda, NY. If desired, memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church or American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, PO Box 122, Tonawanda, NY 14150. Online registry at www.Wattengel.com