Lavel Pfel

Lavel Pfel, age 84, of La Grande, died January 12, 2012 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

Mr. Pfel was born on July 29, 1927, the son of Edward William and Irene (Cottle) Pfel in La Grande. He attended La Grande schools and served with the United States Army. On June 17, 1951 he married Helen Marie Wells in La Grande. He delivered milk for Valley Dairy before going to work for the State of Oregon as a Parks Manager, working at Hilgard, Catherine Creek, Red Bridge and Minam Wayside parks. He retired after thirty years with the state.

Mr. Pfel was a member of the Eagles Lodge. He enjoyed fly fishing, camping, gardening and yard work. He tinkered with wood and made several wood clocks over the years. He and his wife enjoyed traveling to Arizona during the winter months, He enjoyed taking his metal detector out and searching for treasures and reading western books.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Pfel of La Grande; children and their spouses, Patricia "Pat and Richard O'Dell of La Grande, Peggy and Gary Powers of Umatilla and Steven and Tammy Pfel of North Powder; grandchildren, Melissa, Tina, Maverick and Austin; great grandchildren, Baylee, Ayden and Chloe; brother, Melvin Pfel of Anchorage, Alaska; sisters, Geraldine "Gerry" Rudd of La Grande and Alice Emery of La Grande; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by siblings, Louie Pfel, Dorothy "Dot" Hoffman, a three year old brother, Charles and infant twin sisters.

Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the Oregon Cancer Society in care of Daniels~Knopp.

.