Funeral services for Harold Joseph Slagell, 91 year-old Weatherford, Oklahoma resident, will be held Saturday, August 27, 2016, 10:00 A.M. in the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church with Pastor Tim Sandy officiating. Burial will follow in Corn Mennonite Brethren Cemetery under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home. There will be a visitation Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Harold was born March 30, 1925, in Hydro, Oklahoma to John and Alice (Schantz) Slagell and passed away, peacefully in his sleep, Sunday, August 21, 2016, at Corn Heritage Village of Corn. Harold was born and raised north of Hydro and attended the Hopewell School to the 8th grade. At an early age he loved the farm and working with machinery which became his life occupation. Harold accepted Christ as a youth and was baptized and joined the Pleasant View Mennonite Church. During World War II he was drafted and spent his term of Civilian Public Service at the Forest Service Camp in North Fork, California and later he served at the United States Veterans TB Hospital at Livermore, California. In 1946, at the age of 21, Harold joined UNRRA Livestock Program, now known as The Seagoing Cowboys, leaving from New York City with the final destination of Athens, Greece. Taking care of the mules, horses, and cattle, on the ship, was his main responsibility. Harold also served in Voluntary Service at Gulfport, Mississippi in 1948. He returned home and began farming with the family, which included being part of a wheat harvest crew with his brothers and cousins traveling from Oklahoma to Montana. Singing together on wheat harvest was the beginning of the Slagell Quartet in which he sang for many years.

On April 19, 1953, Harold married Ella E. Miller and made their home north of Weatherford where they raised their three daughters. He continued to farm while working several years for the Hinton Telephone Company as a lineman. Harold always included his daughters in his farming adventures through the years. As a result of his love for music and his technical skills, he served as a sound man for many years in the church and sang in the Mens Chorus and the Slagell Quartet. He also taught Sunday School throughout his life and in later years, he served as a church greeter with Ella at Pine Acres Church. As the family grew, Harold and Ella began singing with their daughters teaching them to play musical instruments. This turned into a musical ministry as the family sang at many churches, nursing homes, and different community events. Harold enjoyed singing and playing his bass guitar.

Harold started his company, H & E Dirt Service, and built many terraces, drop pipes, dams and location preparation for many different types of businesses and schools in the area. He thoroughly enjoyed operating and working on his heavy equipment of all types. He participated for many years in LICA Land Improvement Contractors of America - also serving on the board. His love for the soil and farming made him an avid soil conservationist; growing peanuts, cotton, and wheat while experimenting with many different types of crops such as mung beans, soy beans, milo, canola, rye, kenaf, and corn. Harold was awarded the honor of the Deere Creek Soil Conservationist of the year in the early 1980s. He also raised cattle and hogs throughout the years. Harold was a self-taught mechanic who was known as a man that could fix just about anything. He loved water skiing, motorcycles, cars, tractor pulls and anything that was fast and loud.

Harold suffered a major life changing brain aneurism June 25, 2006. His strong will, his wife Ella who never left his side until her death, and the Lords merciful touch of healing allowed Harold to live and minister in his own way to the many nurses that cared for him at Corn Heritage Village. He enjoyed attending the Corn Mennonite Brethren church the last 10 years.

Harold is survived by three daughters, Darla Zook and husband, Duane of Garden City, Missouri, Ranae Almos and husband, Ron of Lenexa, Kansas, and Reonna Gossen and husband, Bryan of Corn, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Ida Slagell of Hydro, Oklahoma; and four grandchildren, Casey Zook, Shelby Zook, Colton Almos, and Reagan Almos. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ella; three brothers, Walter Slagell, Chester Slagell and wife, Ruth, and Maurice Slagell; two sisters, Mildred Slagell and Doris Slagell.

Memorials may be made to the The Seagoing Cowboys