HEBRON – “I try to eat properly, watch my weight, but most of all, I try to treat people the way I want them to treat me,” said Ben Nagel, as he reflected on reaching the 100-year-old milestone.
A birthday celebration was held following Mass on Aug. 11. The long line of St. Helen parishioners waiting to offer birthday wishes to the parish centenarian was evidence of the mutual love and respect Nagel and the church community has for each other.
Father Ian Williams described Nagel, whose birthday was Aug. 8, as “a very joyful presence to have in the parish community. As you can see, Ben is very well loved.”
That love was reciprocated by Nagel, not only at the parish, but with everyone he encountered.
“People like to be loved,” he shared. “That’s just a natural thing. We’re not animals, we’re human beings.”
“I’ve worked with a lot of people in my life and there were some that were hard to get along with. I always respected them because there may be a reason why they’re that way,” said Nagel.
He recalled times when he did find out the underlying problem, which made him feel better. “It made me feel good that I could help them, even if it was to pray for them.”
“My dad is a very special person. Not only to our family but for the St. Helen family as well. He’s a great role model and is someone that everyone loves,” said Nagel’s daughter, Loretta Larkin, of Dexter, Mich.
Larkin was joined by her three brothers, David, Jim and Greg, and other family members at the celebration. In addition to his four children, Nagel has 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Larkin shared many funny and memorable stories about her dad, but none more touching than the care he provided for his wife of 53 years, as he truly lived out his vows, “for better, for worse; in sickness and in health.”
It wasn’t only the family that took notice, but many in the parish saw how Nagel cared for his wife, Teresa, for the last four years of her life as her health declined. She passed away in January 2003 at the age of 72.
St. Helen parishioner Karen Yankauskas was moved by how Nagel would take care of her, despite his age. “Every day he would do her hair and makeup. She looked beautiful. Ben was very caring,” she said.
Nagel shared a request Teresa made of him, something he was able to honor up until her passing. “I remember when she asked me, ‘You wouldn’t put me in a nursing home, would you?’ I said, ‘As long as I can do it, I will care for you,’ and I did. I took good care of her for four years even though she hardly knew who I was,” Nagel said.
His faith has been instrumental all through his life.
“The Church to me means a lot to me. I was born a Catholic, raised a Catholic,” said Nagel, who still attends daily Mass as often as he can get a ride.
For three years he studied to be a priest before he realized he was being called in a different direction.
Nagel drove large tankers as a Teamsters union driver during his lifetime, logging over four million miles and not one chargeable accident. “I always took care of the equipment like it was my own,” he boasted.
Nagel spoke of a dark time not only in his life but in the world, World War II, which left a lasting impression even to this day.
He served in the Army’s armored division under General George Patton towards the tail end of the war. He described how a high school classmate and friend was killed on the first day in combat.
“Boy, did that hurt me. You just don’t forget things like that,” confessed Nagel. “You fear that you’ll never see your folks again. That you might be the next one.”
He said his faith is what kept him safe and going.
“I kept my rosary with me all the time. You pray every day that everybody gets by safely. There are a lot of sad days when things don’t go right and you lose a friend,” he said. “I wasn’t ashamed to admit I cried many times by myself. You come home a different person.”
“Yet, I’m still here,” he added.
Despite losing Teresa and the horrors of the war, Nagel noted, “there are more happy times than there were sad times. You try to get by every day and not let things get you down. If you’re going to take things too seriously, then you’re going to have problems in life.”
Others in the parish and community feed off those words.
“He’s amazing,” remarked Yankauskas. “Ben’s biggest inspiration is his positive attitude, which comes from his deep faith. He loves the parish, and the parish loves him.”
Yankauskas revealed that Ben has quite a sense of humor and he’s quite a talker. “Ben has a fantastic sense of humor. If he’s not picking on you, you know he’s upset about something,” she explained.
As for being a talker, Nagel himself acknowledged that he’s a bit chatty.
“My wife used to say, ‘when are you going to stop talking to people?’ I told her when my mind stops talking- when I die, that’s when I’ll stop talking,” he joked.
Before a birthday blessing by Father Williams and parish pastor Father Thomas Mischler, Nagle shared a few words from the heart.
“I want to thank all the people who came today and for being so kind to me. I pray for them every day. This has been a very special day for me, and I’ll never forget it, never, never. There’s been so many wonderful things that have happened to me that I didn’t expect. Thank you to everyone here at St. Helen’s, you’re the greatest.”
Caption: Ben Nagel receives birthday well-wishes from St. Helen parishioners following Mass on Aug. 11. Nagel turned 100 on Aug. 8. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)