Alton "Tony" Pagel, 79,  passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, MN. Tony was born at home in Marion Township on December 31, 1934, the fifth child of George and Lula Pagel. He grew up in Marion and attended the rural school in the Village. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1952 and attended Rochester Junior College for one year. Tony was a member of the National Guard based in Rochester until receiving a medical discharge in 1955. Tony and Barbara Whitcomb were married at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester on August 12, 1959. They would have celebrated 55 years of marriage this summer.

Tony was proud to be a farmer; his greatest joy was working the land, close to nature, growing crops, raising hogs and his beloved Holstein cattle. He enjoyed showing his livestock at the county and state fairs. He was a huge supporter of the Olmsted County Fair and served with Barb as co-chairman of the 150 ^th Anniversary Celebration of the fair in 2010. He also loved music, both as a listener and as a singer. It was not unusual to enter the barn at milking time and hear Tony singing as he worked. Reading was a favorite pastime; he was a great storyteller and a writer. In recent years Tony and Barb have written their memories to create a book for family and friends. He also collected stories and poems by others that had special meaning for him and often shared them as well.

Tony was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church where he was proud to be an usher and to serve on the Church Council. He was an FFA member, also a 4-H member and adult leader in Olmsted County. He belonged to the Rochester Area Holstein Club, serving as president for a number of years, and was a member of the state and national Holstein Associations.

Tony is survived by his wife, Barb; his children, Rick (Elizabeth) Pagel, Diana (Tim) Mann, and Beth Anne (Mike Pembleton) Pagel, and four grandchildren, Chris & Tony Joe Pagel, and Aric & Mackenzie Mann. Also surviving are his brother, Clifton (Lea) Pagel, and sisters, Marion (Bill) Friedrich, and Jane Mercer, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Tony was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Luella Lorch and Viola Noerenberg, and brother-in-law Gerald Mercer.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Tony on Saturday, March 22, at 11 am at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester. Visitation will be at Macken Funeral Home River Park Chapel on Friday, March 21, from 3 – 8 pm and at the church from 10 – 11 am before the service on Saturday. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens later in the spring. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Church or an organization of your choice.

Online condolences are welcome at mackenfuneralhome.com or they may be sent to the family at 5527 70 ^th Ave SE, Rochester, MN, 55904.