Otto Phillip Harnagel

O. P. Harnagel, 88, Niobrara Official 26 Years and Resident 60 Years Dies

Otto P. Harnagel, 88, a Niobrara County official for nearly 26 years and resident of Niobrara for 60 years, died in the Bennett Hospital at Rapid City, S. Dak., Friday. Funeral services were held from the Peet Chapel in Lusk Tuesday afternoon.

Otto Phillip Harnagel was born in West Point Township, Lee County, Iowa, in 1879 and was educated in the rural schools of that county. He and Minnie A. Christman were married December 31, 1899, at the home of the bride in Franklin, Iowa. Their three sons were born there. The family then moved to near Miller, Nebr., to farm for five years. It was here that their daughter was born.

In April 1908, Mr. Harnagel came to the Kirtley community of Niobrara County and filed on a homestead. The following fall he built a home on the homestead and in the spring of the next year the family joined him there. In 1919 following the sale of the homestead they moved to Lusk. In 1921 they purchased the former C. C. Browning place some 15 miles north of Lusk where they lived until July 1926 when Mr. Harnagel was appointed Deputy Clerk of Court.

The following November Mr. Harnagel was elected Clerk of Court in his own right. He served through 1934 and in 1935 Mr. Harnagel and his eldest son, Ray and C. F. Hall established the Gamble Store in Lusk. He was active in the store until the fall of 1936 when he was elected Niobrara County Clerk. The store was sold to Roberts and O'Brien. He was re-elected every election until 1954 when, at the age of 75, he chose to retire.

He was a charter member of the Lusk Lions Club and long an officer in the First Congregational Church of Lusk.

Mrs. Harnagel died August 6, 1951. Survivors include his three sons, Harvey, Casper, Wyo., Roy, Hot Springs, S. Dak., William, Bakersfield, Calif.; one daughter, Mrs. Velma Giinther, Tempe, Ariz.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.

SERVICES TUESDAY

The Rev. Robert Boutwell of the United Church of Christ (Congregational) officiated at the funeral services. Robert Reichert sang "This World Is Not My Home" and "In the Garden." Mrs. Gerald Bardo was organist.

Casket bearers were Roy McLain, Stanley Hoy, Ray DeGering, Walter Tyrrel, Bud Cantwell, C. E. Marvin.

Honorary casket bearers were Harold Rogers, G. L. Pfeifer, Harry Fernau Jr., V. W. Wingren, Reg C. Bafford, Don C. Taylor, J. P. Watson, Dave Iliff, Rulo Roberts.

Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

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