Alan E. Langel

May 4, 2018

Alan E. Langel, the son of Earl and Joan Langel, was born on August 25, 1959, in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He was the third of six children, Barbara, Nancy, Alan, Martin, Rodney, and Kelly. He attended Milford Community Schools and graduated in 1977. While in high school, he especially enjoyed music and participating in musicals. Alan moved to Joplin, Missouri, in 1982 and lived there and in Seneca, Missouri, until his death. His work career included working for Stylecraft Furniture in Milford and La-Z-Boy Furniture in Neosho, Missouri. In his early years, he also spent time installing in-ground swimming pools. His last 15 years of work were spent working for Mercy Housing in Joplin as their Property Manager. During this time, he received the “Spirit of Mercy Award” for his help in evacuating 72 residents of Mercy Housing the night Joplin was devastated by a tornado in 2011. He will be remembered for getting the residents out of the severely damaged building, as well as getting them to the hospital or into temporary housing. Alan always liked working on cars, car shows, and music. He also enjoyed planting and growing fruit trees. He was especially happy when he was able to spend time with his family. Alan passed away on May 4, 2018, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin at age 58. Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Joplin on May 8, 2018. He will be interred at the Calvary Cemetery in Milford, Iowa. Left to cherish Alan’s memory are two children, Karissa (Eric) Eaton of Purcell, MO, and Kelcey Langel of Joplin, MO; five grandchildren, Deitrik Langel and Jacob, Kaitlyn, Matthew, and Justin Eaton, all of Purcell, MO; his mother, Joan Langel of Milford, IA; sisters Barbara Langel of Urbandale, IA, and Nancy (Jim) Kerr of Mitchell, NE, brothers Dr. Rodney (Luann) Langel of Urbandale, IA, and Kelly (Michelle) Langel of Belvidere, IL, and his nieces and nephews; aunts and uncles, Phyllis Hintz, Dale and Mary Langel, Wayne and Glatha Langel, and Ray Cranston; and extended family and friends. Alan was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Matilda (Weiskircher) Langel and Martin and Ella (Sonius) Hoffman, his father, Earl J. Langel, his brother, Martin J. Langel, and aunts and uncles, Ella and Verle Lair, Andrew and Lorene Hoffman, Paul Hintz, and Dorothy (Langel) Cranston.