Theodore "Richard" F. Harnagel

THEODORE F. “RICHARD” HARNAGEL, 96, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 9:35 a.m., Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Independence Care Center, Perryville, Missouri.

He was born to the late Otto and Ollie (nee Garris) Harnagel on December 14, 1928 in Wittenberg, Missouri.

Richard retired from Chester Mental Health Center where he had worked as a security therapy aide. He also had worked as a painter and cosmetologist.

He served in the United States Army during the Korean War from January 27, 1951 to February 4, 1953, when he was honorably discharged as a Corporal. He earned the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. He transferred to the Army Reserve from February 5, 1953 until October 11, 1956. Richard was also a member of the V.F.W. Post #3553 in Chester.

Richard was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Sereno, Missouri. He was a gifted gardener, cultivating a summer crop and beautiful flowers at his home overlooking the Mississippi River into his 90’s. He often shared produce, bulbs and seeds with friends and relatives. He enjoyed traveling in his younger years with New Orleans being one of his favorite destinations. As he aged, he enjoyed tending to his plants and watching the river from his front porch. “Uncle Dick” loved eating out and spending time with his many loving nieces and nephews.

Survivors:

   1 Sister: 

        Joyce (Dale) McDonough Bethalto, IL

   Special Friend: 

        Kathy Briggs and her children Tennessee

   Many Nieces, Nephews, Great Nieces and Great Nephews

Preceded in Death by: Parents, 3 Sisters – Vivian Brueggeman, Margie Garris, and Pauline Click, 4 Brothers – Arthur “Buck” Harnagel, Jack Harnagel, Jim Harnagel and William Harnagel in infancy, Special Niece – Donna Davis who had been his caregiver

Funeral Service: 

   12:00 pm, Thursday, September 4, 2025

   Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois

Officiating: 

   Father Sebastian Ukoh

Entombment: 

   Mount Hope Cemetery

   Perryville, Missouri

Visitation: 

   Thursday – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

   Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois

Memorials: 

   Wounded Warrior Project

   Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy, Belleville, Illinois