Frederick “Fred” E. Nagel, age 93, longtime resident of Hudson, WI, died Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Red Cedar Canyon in Hudson. 

Fred was born on November 7, 1922 in Hudson, WI, the son of Emil and Mabel (Kuehmsted) Nagel. Fred attended school in Hudson, and was a graduate of Hudson High School, the class of 1940. Following his graduation, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and after receiving his degree in engineering, enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1942, where he proudly served during WWII for four years. When he returned, he came back to Hudson to work for his father’s business, Central Lumber Company, and in 1949, accepted a position engineering test equipment for Hughes Aircraft Co. in California, owned by the famous Howard Hughes. While in California, he also had a stint at Ryan Aeronautical, working on guided missiles, among other things. 

It was while he was living in California, that he met and married Thelma Crumrine. They were united in marriage on November 26, 1955 in Englewood, CA, and their marriage was blessed with three children, LuAnne, Leslie, and Steven. 

When he returned back to Hudson with his family in 1965, he worked again for Central Lumber in Stillwater and the Local Lumber Branch in Hudson. It was then that he began his interest in land development and real estate, later teaming with local realtor, Fred Kermott. He became passionate for the appraisal side of real estate, inspiring him to own and operate Nagel Appraisal Services. He was joined by his daughter, LuAnne in 1987.

Together with his wife, they had a special interest in the arts as longtime patrons of the St. Croix Valley Arts Guild. Fred was a founding director of the The Phipps Center for the Arts Board in 1980, and served on the board until 2014. He served as vice president from 1985-1988, and was president from 1990-1993. He also was on the board of the William H. Phipps Foundation since 1973, and was its president from 2007, until his retirement in 2015. Fred personally put together a deal to get a donation of a pipe organ from KSTP and owner Stanley Hubbard, which the Phipps Center uses to this day. He and Thelma were great organ enthusiasts and owners of two pipe organs. 

Fred was an avid Ham Radio buff, and loved his 1951 Willis Overland, Walters Trucks, Hudson history and electric locomotives. He also had a great interest in geo-thermal heating, enjoying a trip with Thelma to Iceland. Fred also was a member of Hudson Rotary and many other community organizations. 

Fred is survived by his wife, Thelma; children: LuAnne (Paul) Larson of Hudson, Leslie (James) Kiley of Roseville, MN, and Steven (Katy) Nagel of Hudson; grandchildren: Benjamin Larson of Minneapolis, MN, Andrew (Lindsay) Larson of Hudson, WI, Bethany Larson of Hudson, WI, and Collin Kiley of Roseville, MN; great-grandchildren, Kaylie Larson and Abel Hruska; and a niece and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy & Clyde Jensch, and Catherine & George Gilbertson; and nephew, Warren Jensch. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, 1901 Vine St., with a visitation starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church. Interment at the Willow River Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church of Hudson, and the Phipps Center for the Arts.