Ingvert Appel

Ingvert Appel, 84, of Des Moines, Iowa formerly of Eldora, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2017. Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at the Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora. Burial will be held privately. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Ingvert Appel was born Dec. 21, 1932 in rural Estherville, Iowa, the fourth son of six first generation American boys born to Otto and Bathilda Appel, Danish Immigrants who arrived to the States in the 1920’s.

He attended country school where the Appel boys tormented the poor young school marm.  He graduated from the Graettinger public schools, in 1951.  He started at Dana College in Blair, NE in the fall of 1951.  He was drafted into the Army in the spring of 1953 (during the Korean War).  He was honorably discharged in 1956, and returned to Dana College where he graduated in 1958.

He was married to Sharon Anderson at Marathon, IA on August 25, 1956.  To this union 3 children were born: Kathleen, Steven, and Richard.

He began his teaching career as Business Ed teacher and girls coach in the Ute Public Schools.  He continued his education during the summers at Omaha University receiving his Masters in School Administration.  He started his School Administration career in 1963 as high school principal at the Charter Oak-Ute School in Charter Oak.  He later served as High School Principal at Westwood in Sloan, then Alta, and Scranton.  In 1972 he received his Specialist in School Administration from Iowa State University.  In 1972 he became Superintendent at Scranton, a position he held until 1979 when he became Superintendent at Eldora.  He retired from that position in 1994.  He and his wife Sharon resided there until this Spring when they moved to their current home in Des Moines.

He was always active in community affairs, including the Eldora Chamber of Commerce, Hospital Board, Rotary, advisory board member for the Eldora Training School (where he was recently appointed as a lifetime member), board member for the Iowa Valley Community College, and a CASA advisor.  He was a faithful, active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church and the American Legion where he was past commander.  Ingvert was a consummate fighter for the underdog, never failing to see the value in every person, child, and even a baseball team.  After all, he was a lifelong and diehard Cubs fan.  Go Cubbies!

Over the years, he and Sharon travelled frequently, seeing places, friends, and most importantly family.  They loved following the activities of their children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.

His love for life, family, and friends stayed with him up to the very end as is evident by his trip to Wisconsin just last weekend which included a boat ride, something he always enjoyed.  He was a mentor and a role model as a father, grandfather, educator, and a great example of a man.  His heart and mind were not ready to quit the game but his body was tired.  He gave us so very many memories by which to remember him.

He is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter Kathy (Tom) Taggart of Waukee, son Steve (Deanna) of Blair, NE, and son Rich of Horicon, WI., grandchildren: Cole (Anna) Taggart, Chase (Trisha) Taggart, Marissa Appel, Dane Appel, Jordan Appel, and Stephanie Appel, great grandchildren: Reese, Bennett, Finn, and Paxton Taggart, brother Paul (Bett), Sister-in laws Audrey Appel and Gwenna Appel, along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, and his brothers Hans, Henry, Einer, and infant Kristian.