Myron A. Naugle

Myron Andrew Naugle, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the age of 91 in Atkinson, Illinois.  Visitation will be Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  A funeral will be held at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory, Geneseo, IL on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 10:00 am.  The funeral service will be livestreamed at https://www.vandemorefuneralhome.com/live-stream.  The burial will be at Rosedale Cemetery in Cambridge, IL, following the funeral.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Macular Degeneration Association (macularhope.org) or the Atkinson Fire Department.

Myron was born on February 17, 1933, the son of Andrew and Annie Earnestine (McMillan) Naugle in rural Belle, MO.  He was 10 years old when his family moved to Illinois and settled in rural Cambridge.  Myron loved farming from an early age.  When he was a junior in high school, he went to live and work alongside his brother Ernie at his farm.  He graduated from Orion High School in 1950.  Myron went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955.  He met the love of his life, Marjorie Reiling, while visiting his sister Marian in the hospital.  Marjorie was Marian’s nurse.  They married on January 14, 1961, at the Atkinson Congregational Church in Atkinson, IL.

Myron was a lifelong farmer, who raised cattle, hogs, corn, and soybeans.  He owned and operated his own truck, hauling livestock from Pittsburgh to Minneapolis.  He loved spending time with family and friends and enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and making homemade ice cream.  He was an avid car and truck enthusiast and a huge fan of western TV shows and country music.  He enjoyed playing golf and was a marshal at the John Deere Classic several times over the years.  He also enjoyed bowling in Annawan for the Atkinson Grain men’s team and Geneseo couple’s leagues – he was the men’s league champion from 1981-1982.  He enjoyed going to Arizona during the colder months, spending more than 30 winters with his wife there.

Myron was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 1969, he served on the Atkinson Alba Drainage District Board, was Director for the Henry County Pork Producers and was Past Director of the Henry County Farm Bureau.  He sold and serviced Electrolux Vacuums for many years and was a Sales Representative for Golden Harvest and Pioneer Seed.  Over his lifetime, he donated more than five gallons of blood.  Myron was an active member of the Atkinson Congregational Church serving on the Diaconate and Trustee Boards.  He helped with many church activities, his favorite being the homemade ice cream social.  

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Marjorie Naugle; daughter, Beth Naugle (Geneseo), son, Jeff (Shelby) Naugle (Round Rock, TX), daughter, Michelle (Ken) Cheng (Reno, NV), daughter, Kimberly (Brian) Chmielowicz (Joliet, IL); grandchildren, Andrew, Bradley (Olivia), Caleb, and Joel Naugle, Morgan (Randall) Slusher; great-grandchildren, Theodore and Henry Naugle; sister-in-law, Elvera Reiling; several beloved nieces and nephews, and special family friend, Mike Davis.

Myron was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Annie Naugle; infant son, Bryan Naugle; siblings, Marian (Wayne) Wiley, Ernest (June) Hoffmeier, Velma (Virgil) Morris, Merle (Shirley) Hoffmeier, Frances (Robert) Mitchell, Eunice (Herman) Miller, Lovie (William) Johnson, Anderson (Grace) Naugle, Frederick (Rose Marie) Naugle, Agnes (Rudolph) Zacharda, and Woodrow (Sarah) Naugle; and mother and father in-law, Harold (Elizabeth) Reiling; brothers-in-law, Frederick Reiling, and Rodney (Roberta) Reiling.

Special thanks to Nurse Emily from Hammond Henry Home Health for her compassionate care.