Larry Pagels, 70

Larry D. Pagels, age 70, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, July 28, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
He was born Oct. 23, 1947, in Sturgis, a son of the late Frances E. (Easterly) Pagels.
Larry was a lifelong Sturgis resident. On July 16, 1982, he married Ann Jeanette Large in Sturgis. She died Feb. 3, 1994. On Nov. 23, 2003, he married Jill (Jacobs) Pelfrey in Sturgis. She preceded him in death Nov. 18, 2014.
Larry retired from James River Paper Company in Kalamazoo following several years of dedicated employment.
Larry was a longtime member of Sturgis Church of Christ and he was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War.
He is survived by stepchildren Randy (Trish) Pelfrey of Sturgis, Sarah Jo Pelfrey of Middlebury, Ind., Trent Freeman, Todd Freeman and Troy Freeman; several step-grandchildren, including Randy (Kadie) Jr., Daniel, Cameron, Johanna, Robby, Roxanna, Samantha and Damion; many step-great-grandchildren; and a stepsister: Marsha L. Palmer of Hendersonville, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Frances and DeLoy Palmer; a stepsister, Linda F. (Palmer) Jones; a stepson, Daniel L. Pelfrey; and a stepbrother, Alan D. Palmer.
In accordance with Larry’s wishes, cremation will take place. A memorial service celebrating and honoring the life of Larry D. Pagels will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sturgis Church of Christ. The Rev. George Cleverley will officiate. A graveside committal will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, where full military honors will be conferred by Capt. John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorial donations to the funeral home would be appreciated, to help with expenses.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.