James Kragel

James Frederick Kragel was born April 12, 1928, the son of William and Ella Cragin Kragel. He passed away Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at the Carriage Square Nursing Home in St. Joseph, Missouri, at the age of 84.
James was born in Mapleton, Iowa. He attended schools in the area and completed his education in the Merchant Marines in 1944. He received his honorable discharge at the end of the war in 1945. On August 1, 1949, James was united in marriage to Ruth Mary Dozler and this union was blessed with the birth of four children. James was employed as an electrician by Crawford County REC in Denison, Iowa; Wall Lake Municipal Utilities in Wall Lake, Iowa; and Corning Municipal Utilities in Corning, Iowa; and most recently as a hotel owner/operator of the LaConne Motel in Corning before retiring.
James enjoyed family gatherings and playing with his grandchildren. Cribbage was a favorite game he loved to play with family and friends and he even won several Cribbage tournaments. James umpired Southwest Iowa high school baseball games. James was a member of the Happy Hollow Country Club where he played golf while living in Corning. Activities he enjoyed in his free time were reading Louie LAmour novels, watching westerns on TV, and camping with RV groups. While visiting the Savannah Senior Center in Savannah, Missouri, James enjoyed playing cards, participating in the many activities, and dining. James was a Veteran of the Merchant Marines and an active member of the churches and Knights of Columbus in the towns the family resided including: St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison; St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake; St. Patricks Catholic Church in Corning; and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in St. Joseph.
James was preceded in death by his parents; one son in infancy, Darrell; and four siblings: Leonard; Willamette; Wilford; and Bill. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; three sons: David and his wife, Sharlene; Don and his wife, Jeanette; and Dennis and his wife, Lori; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.