George Eugene Pagel, age 96 passed away June 8, 2025 in Rapid City, SD.

He was the son of George H. and Loretta (Lorenzen) Pagel, born on February 17th, 1929 in the Stratford, SD area.  He grew up and attended country school with his sister Marilyn in the surrounding area and graduated from Groton High School in 1947.  In March 1948 he joined the US Navy, attended several Navy Schools and became a qualified Submarine Sailor as a Diesel Mechanic.  He rose to the rank of First Class Petty Officer (FN1SS) and was Honorably Discharged in March of 1957, having served for nine years.  He is a Korean War Veteran.  After his discharge he farmed and had a trucking business in the Stratford area until 1976.  In 1976 he moved his family to the Black Hills area where they had a small ranch in Custer County.  In 1982, George moved his family to New Mexico where he worked in Security for 14 years, retiring from Martin Marietta Corporative in 1996.

George is survived by six children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

At his request, there will be no funeral service; his wishes were for direct cremation with the remains to be interred at the Black Hills National Cemetery.  Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD has been entrusted with the arrangements.