Obituary of Earl Langel

A Mass of Christian Burial for Earl Langel, 88, of Milford will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 29, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will begin Sunday, January 28, 2018 after 4:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Parish Center with the Parish Vigil service at 6:00 p.m. Earl John Langel was born August 9th, 1929, in the home of his parents, John and Matilda (Weiskircher) Langel. He was raised and educated in Milford, graduating in 1947. He served his country in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. Upon his return to the U.S., he began his farming career. Earl met Joan at a Rural Young Peoples Meeting and soon began dating. They married on June 9, 1954. To this union six children were born -- Barbara, Nancy, Alan, Martin (d. 1979), Rodney, and Kelly. Earl was dedicated to preserving his farm as a steward of the land. He had a passion for creating tools and modifying equipment and should have been titled an engineer. He fabricated a hitch that allowed him to pull two plows behind one tractor of which he was very proud. As an early adopter of narrow-row technology, he built his own narrow-row planter. He was skillful in raising crops and received an award in 1969 for top soybean yields. The farming operation included swine, dairy cows, and chickens which provided the opportunity for his children to enjoy many 4H and FFA projects - bottle lambs, pheasants, and horses. Earl enjoyed spending time with his collie dogs, restoring and riding Cushman scooters, car shows, music, museums, and history. He would often buy an old engine and say to his children/grandchildren, "Let's tear it apart and see how it works - and see if we can make it better." His hobbies were growing grape vines, fruit trees, reading, learning how to play a guitar at 75 years of age, and most importantly, spending time with his wife and family. He always taught his children - no matter what, do it right the first time. Earl passed away peacefully at Lakes Regional Hospital, Spirit Lake, IA, on Jan 26th, 2018, at 88 years of age. Earl is survived by his wife, Joan, of 63 years; Barbara of Urbandale, IA; Nancy (Jim) Kerr of Scottsbluff, NE, grandson Jarod of Minneapolis, MN; Alan of Seneca, MO, grandchildren Karissa (Eric) Eaton of Purcell, MO, and Kelcey of Joplin, MO; Rodney (Luann) of Urbandale, IA, grandsons Steven, Michael, and Benjamin; Kelly (Michelle) of Belvidere, IL, and grandchildren Justin Temple of Belvidere, IL, Nicky (Stephen) Gardner of San Diego, CA, Jonathon of Madison, WI, and Christian of Belvidere, IL; and 10 great grandchildren. Earl was preceded in death by his son, Martin, and parents, John and Matilda Langel.