Fernmarie Nagell (née Prendergast)

September 6, 1922 – March 30, 2020
Age 97 of New Hope, born 9/06/1922 Esterville, IA. Died March 30, 2020 surrounded by her family. Preceded in death by husband, Carl Peter Nagell; parents, Joe and Florence (Byrne) Prendergast; dearly loved daughter, Kathleen (Kitty), and sister, Evelyn (Les) Boelter. After a difficult childhood, scarred by divorce and poverty she was crowned Queen of the 1940 Graduating class at Cathedral High School in Sioux Falls. She then took off to Minneapolis where she could pursue her love for dance. With her growing business savvy she went on to operate her own Arthur Murray dance studio. Early in her dance teaching career a new student with one leg was initially shunned by instructors, but Fernmarie never afraid of a challenge took on the shy disabled student. Not only did he become a great dancer, he went on to join the teaching staff and became a popular instructor himself. One evening she was invited to tag along with cousin Lucy and her date to a dance party. To her surprise the handsome young Naval pilot Carl Nagell decided to take Lucy home first. A fairly short courtship led to a long marriage and four children: Mark Carl (Diane div); Joe (Teri div) Vicky; Michael Peter (Barb McCleary div); and Kitty. Survived by grandchildren: Angie (Kermit Nash), Shane (Carissa), Luke (Loren), Trina (Grant Smith), Michelle and Nicole Nagell; Zoe (Mark Byrnes); Peter (Kayleen). Neices: Pat Boelter, Judy Vevang and nephew Terry Boelter. Plus close to 20 or more great grandchildren. A gathering will be scheduled at a date when we can share stories of mischief and love that followed her throughout her long life. (Published in the Star Tribune on April 5, 2020)