Minnie Amelia Harnagel

Mrs. O. P. Harnagel Passes Away In Niobrara Memorial Hospital Monday; Interment Made In Lusk Cemetery

Thon Book No. 3

The entire community was grieved when word passed from friend to friend telling of the death of Mrs. O. P. Harnagel Monday morning August 6th, in the Niobrara Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Harnagel had been ill for several years, and during the past three months her illness had kept her bedfast.

Concluding rites were held at 2:00 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon in the chapel of the Peet Funeral home. The Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the Congregational Christian Church of Lusk, officiated at the services and paid a fitting tribute to the life so well lived by the deceased.

Mute testimony of the esteem and affection held for the deceased was shown by the Myriads of floral tributes placed throughout the chapel, which was filled to capacity by friends gathered to pay their final respects.

During the services, members of the Congregational choir sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, " and "God Shall Wipe Away All Tears." A mixed quartet composed of Ruth Thomas, Mrs. Mary Ann Griffith, and Lee Johnsonbaugh and Dale Bardo sang "This World is Not My Home." Mrs. Dale Bardo directed the choir and Mrs. Jerry Bardo provided the organ accompaniment.

The remains were laid to rest in the Lusk Cemetery with C. E. Marvin, Stanley Hoy, Roy McLain, Walter Tyrrel, Rulo Roberts and A. C. "Slim Tibbets, acting as casket bearers. Honorary pallbearers were Thomas O. Miller, T. A. Godfrey, J. P. Costlow, George Gibson, G. L. Pfeifer, Harold Rogers, T. L. Cantwell and Earl Criss.

Minnie Amelia Christman was born July 26, 1881 near Franklin, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Catherine Christman, and departed from this life on Monday, August 6th, 1951 at the age of 70 years and ten days. She was baptized during her infancy in St. Paul's Evangelical Church of Franklin, Iowa and later was confirmed in the church. She attended the schools of that community until the death of her father.

On December 13, 1899, she was united in marriage to Otto P. Harnagel in the home of her mother at Franklin, Iowa. They resided for five years on a farm east of Franklin, and during that time their home was blessed with three sons. The family then moved to Miller, Nebr., where they engaged in farming and it was here that their only daughter was born.

Mr. Harnagel came westward to Kirtley, Wyo., where he homesteaded In April 1909, and the following spring Mrs. Harnagel and children moved to their new home. In January 1919, they moved to Lusk and purchased a residence which has since been the family home.

In 1921, they purchased the C. C. "Chuck" Browning ranch on the old Buck Creek road and engaged in ranching there until 1926, when Mr. Harnagel was first appointed deputy clerk of court. The Gamble Store was first established in this city by Mr. Harnagel, his son Ray, and C. F. Hall, and Mrs. Harnagel became an active partner in the store which they operated for two years, when it was sold to Roberts and O'Brien.

Mr. and Mrs. Harnagel celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the Lusk Congregational Church with a renewal of their wedding vows and a reception on December 13th, 1949. all of their children and their families, as well as a host of friends, were present to pay them tribute.

Mrs. Harnagel, who had been very active in the local and civic activities of each community in which she had resided, also took an active interest in religious education. She taught a Sunday School class near Miller, Nebr. and was one of the leaders promoting church work in the Kirtley community.

Mr. and Mrs. Harnagel both became members of the Congregational church of Lusk, when they first moved to this city. Mrs. Harnagel took a leading interest in the church circle and served as its president. She was also a member of Royal Valley club and Triple B. club.

Deeply devoted to her church, Mrs. Harnagel, ever willing to lend a helping hand, managed many dinners and banquets for various civic organizations which has for many years been a great help in financing the church work. Many persons remember Mrs. Harnagel with a fond rememberance of kindness, patience and understanding which she tendered them during her residence here.

She is survived by her husband, Otto P. Harnagel of this city; three sons, Harvey C. Harnagel, Casper, Wyo.; Raymond F. Harnagel, Hot Springs, S.D., and William Harnagel, Borger, Tex., one daughter, Mrs. Charles Ginther, Borger, Tex.; four grandsons and one granddaughter; a sister Mrs. Bishop Latta, Fort Madison, Iowa; a brother, Dr. F. C. Christman, Okmulgee, Okla.; a half brother, Phillip Franzman, Leota Kans., and a half sister, Mrs. Katherine Hotop of Fort Madison, Iowa.

The Lusk Herald
August 9, 1951
Mrs. O. P. Harnagel, County Resident Over 40 Years, Dies

Mrs. O. P. Harnagel, 70, died Monday morning at the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital from a lingering illness that has kept her bedfast for the past three months.

Funeral services are being he1d from the Peet Mortuary Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and burial will be made in the Lusk Cemetery. Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the Lusk Congregational Church, will have charge of the service.

Minnie Amelia Christman was born July 26, 1881 near Franklin, Ia., the daughter of Catherine and Charles Christman. She was baptized as an infant in the St. Paul's Evangelical Church at Franklin where she was confirmed after attending confirmation school. She attended the local school until the death of her father.

She married Otto P. Harnagel at her mother's home in Franklin, Dec. 13, 1899 and for five years the couple lived on a farm east of Franklin. It was there that their three sons were born. The family then moved to near Miller, Nebr. to farm for five years. It was there that their
daughter was born.

In April 1909 Mr. Harnagel came out to the Kirtley community of Niobrara County to file on a homestead. The following fall he built a home on the homestead and in the spring of the next year the family moved there. In January, 1919, the family moved to Lusk where they purchased
a home which has constantly been a home for the entire family.

In 1921 they purchased the former Chuck Browning ranch on the old Buck Creek road and were there until 1926 when Mr. Harnagel was first appointed deputy district court clerk. In 1935 Mr. Harnagel, his son Ray, and C. F. Hall established the Gamble Store in Lusk. Mrs. Harnagel became an active partner in the store for two years until it was sold to Roberts & O'Brien.

Mr. and Mrs. Harnagel celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the Lusk Congregational Church on Dec. 13, 1949 when many friends paid tribute to the couple that had served the community and county so well.

Mrs. Harnagel had been a resident of Niobrara County for over 40 years. She was very active in social and civic activities all during her life. She taught a Sunday school class in Nebraska all during her residence there. She was one of the leaders in promoting church services in Kirtley.

After moving to Lusk Mr. and Mrs. Harnagel joined the Lusk Congregational Church, and she became very active in the Church Circle of which she served as president. She was also a member of the Royal Valley Club and the Triple B Club.

Tied with her devotion to her church, Mrs. Harnagel had great concern for others, helping wherever she could, even thru her own last painful illness. She loved doing many things for children, as can be vouched for by many now grown and living in the community.

The church kitchen and dining room became a personal pride to her. She managed many luncheons and dinners there for the various civic clubs, which was a great help to the church finance thru the years.

Surviving besides her husband are the four children: Harvey C. Harnagel, Casper; Raymond F. Harnagel, Hot Springs, S. Dak; William R. Harnagel, Borger, Tex.; and Mrs. Charles W. Giinther, Borger, Tex., who has been here caring for her mother since May 9. There are four grandsons and one grand-daughter; one sister, Mrs. Bishop Latta, Fort Madison, Ia.; one brother, Dr. F. C. Christman, Okmulgee, Okla.; a half brother, Phillip Franzman, Leota, Kan.; and a half sister, Katherine Hotop, Fort Madison, Ia.

The Lusk Herald
August 16, 1951
Funeral Services Held Thursday For Mrs. O. P. Harnagel

Concluding rites were held from the Chapel of the Peet Mortuary Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock for Mrs. 0. P. Harnagel, who died Aug. 6 following a lingering illness.

The Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the Congregational Church, officiated at the services. The choir of the Lusk Congregational Church provided music selections, "Beautiful Isle" and "God Shall Wipe Away All Tears" by Romo, with solo part by Mrs. E. R. Bixby. A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. James B. Griffith, Jr., Mrs. Samuel M. Thomas, Lee Johnsonbaugh and Dale M. Bardo, sang "This World Is Not My Home." Mrs. Gerald Bardo provided the piano accompaniment for the choir and quartet numbers as well as chapel music at the organ.

Burial waa made in the Lusk Cemetery with the following pallbearers: C. E. Marvin, Stanley Hoy, Roy McLain, Walter Tyrrel, Rulo Roberts, A. C. Tibbits. Honorary pallbearers were Thomas O. Miller, T. A. Godfrey, J. P. Costlow, George Gibson, G. L. Pfeifer, Harold Rogers, T. L. Cantwell and Earl Criss.

Out-of-town relatives attending the funeral services were: son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Giinther and son, Charley Bill, Borger, Tex.; sons and daughters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. Harnagel and son, Floyd, Casper; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond F. Harnagel and sons, Billy Ray and Jimmy, Hot Springs, S. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. William R. Harnagel and daughter, June, Borger, Tex.; sister-in-law of Mr. Harnagel, Mrs. Josie Harnagel and son, Herbert, Fort Madison, Ia.; nephews and nieces, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Harnagel, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Harnagel and son of Miller, Nebr.

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