Rebecca Ann Nagel

Rebecca “Becky” Ann Nagel, 83, of Hudson, WI passed away on Thursday May 8, 2025. Becky was born and raised in Hartley, Iowa, where she excelled in academics and was a formidable basketball player in high school. During her formative years, she became an avid reader and recalled that more than 30+ periodicals arrived at her parent’s home each month. After graduating from Hartley High School in 1960, she married the love of her life, Vernon, and they lived a wonderful life together, venturing into the Midwest to pursue their professional and academic goals and raise two children. They eventually settled in the Twin Cities where Becky earned her bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and her master’s degree from Hamline University. For over 20 years, Becky worked as a respiratory therapist and educator at the University of Minnesota teaching basic life support and advanced life support. When Becky wasn’t working, she loved tending to her garden, planting trees, reading, cooking, and sewing. Her love of nature and desire to preserve land for animals lead Becky and Vern to protect 205 acres of land through a special transaction with Kinnickinnic River Land Trust and partners. The land is in the center of St. Croix County in Wisconsin and is now known as “The Nagel Wildlife Management Area.” To learn more about this project, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Lands/WildlifeAreas/Nagel or search for “Heart of the Kinni – Vern and Becky Nagel” on YouTube.

Rebecca is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Vernon; daughter, Susan (Ron) Laliberte; daughter-in-law, Sherri (Tim) Erdman; grandchildren Amanda (Vincent) Kieger, Kyla Nagel (Zach Dean), Caleb Nagel (Galina Olson), and Adrianna Dahlberg; great-grandchildren Koen, Boe, Brock, Declan and Windsor.

Becky was preceded in death by her parents, Leland and Helen (Schmidt) Bruegmann; brothers, Norman and Norbert; and son, Brett Nagel.

A celebration of life will be held at 11AM on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Bethel Lutheran Church – Highlands Campus, 504 Frontage Rd, Hudson, WI with a gathering of family and friends 1 hour prior to service. A luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church, Friends of the Hudson Library, or the Animal Humane Society.