Thomas Pagel

CUYAHOGA FALLS – Thomas Richard Pagel, 70, passed away surrounded by his loving family August 9, 2021.  He was born in Atlantic, IA and resided in Cuyahoga Falls for the past 47 years.  Tom spent three years of his youth in Havana, Cuba, where he attended a local grade school and his father worked for The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. His family returned to the U.S. after his father surrendered the Firestone plant amidst the Cuban revolution.  He graduated from Firestone High School (1968) then went on to earn a BA in Political Science from The University of Akron (1973) and his JD from The University of Akron School of Law (1979).  Tom’s career involved working for several civil engineering consulting firms in the Akron and Cleveland area, retiring from DLZ Ohio, Inc. in 2002.

In his younger years, Tom played softball and tennis.  He also loved boating, waterskiing, and vacations at the beach.  Throughout his lifetime, he welcomed any excuse to go golfing. Tom faithfully followed college football and basketball and enjoyed spending time with friends at their favorite local restaurants. In his beloved role as “Papa Tom”, he played many games of Monopoly with his grandchildren and was very proud of their academic and athletic accomplishments.  Also, an animal-lover from an early age, he spent lots of quality time with family pets over the years.

Preceded in death by his father, Richard Pagel; he is survived by his mother, Carol Pagel; wife of 47 years, Paula; daughters, Lora Pagel and Carrie (Brett) Obenauf; grandchildren, Jaxon, Jocelyn and Rylan; brothers, Ted, Scott, Dan.

Memorial calling hours will be held from 4-7 PM on Wednesday August 25, 2021 at the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. A private graveside service for the family will be held at Rose Hill Memorial Park.

In lieu of other remembrances, memorials may be made to the Cleveland Clinic Hospice (www.my.clevelandclinic.org) or Humane Society of Summit County (www.summithumane.org.)

Arrangements entrusted to Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home and Crematory, 330-928-2147.