Earl Edward Nehl

Earl Edward Nehl passed away on April 25th 2010 at the age of 93 following complications from a fall suffered at his winter home in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Earl was born on June 29th 1916 in Watauga, South Dakota to Robert M. Nehl and Sara Staudenraus Nehl, and lived on the family ranch. He graduated from McIntosh High School and attended Ellendale State Teachers College in North Dakota. It was during this time that he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Black Hills of South Dakota until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1938. He proudly served his country until the end of WWII, and continued his service in the Naval Reserve for the next 30 years. Before the war Earl was stationed in Pearl Harbor on the USS California. During the war he served on the USS Spica, supplying the Aleutian Islands, then transferring to the USS Varuna and seeing action in the South Pacific Theater. Earl rose to the rank of CWO4 and was awarded many ribbons and pins during the war years. The day after Pearl Harbor, December 8th 1941, he married Jane Scholes of Carson, North Dakota. Together they raised five children in Edmonds, Washington. Earl lived his life to high standards exemplified through the values of hard work and honesty. He was a longtime member of Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonds. A year never went by without he and his wife Jane, along with their children, returning to the Dakotas, visiting extended family. Besides church and family, he developed a passion for golf. Some of his finest memories were of playing golf with his many friends, and his sons. His keen ability allowed him to record three aces during his career. Throughout his life he was an avid reader and never did he stop learning. After the war, Earl was hired by the Pacific Coast Company, then in the early 1950s he was hired at Western Utilities Supply Company, retiring as a vice president in 1972. In 1964-65 he served as President of the Washington Liquid Propane Gas Association. He continued working as an independent sales representative, finally retiring for good in 1993. Earl was an active volunteer for many years coaching CYO and Little League basketball, and Little League and Babe Ruth baseball in the Edmonds area. He also served as President of the Mid-City Athletic Association. He is survived by Jane, his wife of 68 years; his sister Rosie Seiler of McIntosh, South Dakota; his children Timothy (Joy) of Baltimore, MD, Nancy Weishaar of Belfair, WA, Robert (Eileen) of Yakima, WA, Martin of Shoreline, WA, and Roy (Rhonda) of Stanwood, WA; his grandchildren Jenna, Claire (Russell Kinder), Holly, Robin, Ben, Max, Michael, and Zachary. Earl was preceded in death by his father Robert Nehl and step-father Art Nehl; mother Sara Staudenraus Nehl; brothers John, Robert, and Ted; sisters Frances, Gladys, Eleanor, Katherine, and Zella; and son-in-law Robert Emil Weishaar. Earl, along with his brothers and cousins and their spouses, were a small part of the Greatest Generation. Collectively they faced many challenges in the course of their lives, and they met them head on. They truly made a difference. The Nehl Family would like to thank the staff at Chandler Health Care Center in Arizona, and the nursing staff and medical practitioners on the seventh floor at Providence Hospital in Everett, for their warm and caring attention given to Earl during the last weeks of his life. Announcement: Donations in Earls name can be made to: The Earl and Jane Nehl Learning Center @ The University of Mary 7500 University Drive Bismarck, ND 58504