Nagel, Barbara K. 1940-2024 St. Joseph, Mo.
By NewsPress Now
Barbara Katherine (Wise) Nagel, 83, passed away Nov. 23, 2024, at her home. She was born in St. Joseph, on Dec. 3, 1940, to Urban and Helen Wise.
Barbara attended school at St. Francis Xavier and then at the Convent of the Sacred Heart where she graduated from in 1958. Barbara attended St. Joseph Junior College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. She also went on to obtain her Masters and 17 hours above a Masters from Northwest Missouri State University.
Barbara worked as a school teacher for 30 years for the St. Joseph School District. Barbara worked all of those 30 years as one of the kindergarten teachers at Mark Twain Elementary. She was known for her summer school class at Mark Twain where she taught about dinosaurs. She also loved to let you know about the year she won the city wide spelling bee.
Barbara married Carl Nagel (or as many people know him- Ms. Wise’s husband) on Sept. 24, 1977. The couple enjoyed over 47 years of marriage prior to her death.
Barbara was a third generation and lifetime member of St. Francis Xavier church. She taught in the School of Religion program at St. Francis Xavier church, and helped run a child care room during church services for many years. She also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for both her daughter’s and granddaughter’s troops at St. Francis Xavier.
Barbara loved to volunteer and be involved wherever she could. She started the Bartlett Park neighborhood watch group; would go back to Mark Twain School to sub for the kindergarten classes; and loved being a room mother volunteer for her grandkids.
She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who will be missed dearly by her family and friends. Barbara always enjoyed running into her past students and catching up with them. She loved going to lunch with her classmates from the Convent; and she also loved hosting a fondue and game night for her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Spencer; brother, Mike Wise; best friend, Carol Derc; and niece, Heather Wise.
Survivors include husband, Carl Nagel; her children, Sarah (Mike) Hardin, of St. Joseph, Michael (Sarah) Nagel, of Springfield, Missouri; grandchildren, Carlee, Brody, Toby, and Brielle; brother, Urban (Jane) Wise; sister-in-law, Linda Wise; and several nieces and nephews.
A Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at St. Francis Xavier Church, in St. Joseph. Barbara is being cremated under the direction of Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel.
Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Xavier Church. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
