Floyd A. Nagler
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On August 16, 2023 @ 2:42 pm In 2023,Obituaries | 36 Comments
Floyd Allen Nagler, age 73 of Prior Lake, passed away with loved ones by his side on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. A time of gathering will be held for Floyd on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 from 4-7 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant St SE, Prior Lake. Floyd will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery with full military honors at 2:00 PM on Thursday, October 5, 2023. If attending the burial, please arrive to Assembly Area #2 by 1:45 PM. A Mass and Celebration of Life will be held for Floyd at a later date.
Floyd was known for a lot of things. He was a loving husband. Devoted father. A faithful friend. Mr. VA. Ricky Recon. The Command Sergeant Major. A helper to those in need. A giver of warm fuzzies and hugs. And to his siblings, he was always their big brother Floydie.
Floyd was born on June 11th, 1950, in Iowa City, Iowa to Robert Nagler and Anita Dittman. He grew up in Minneapolis, MN with his mother and sister Jeannette, where he attended Bancroft Elementary, Bryant Junior High, and Central High School, but always loved his summers spent with his father’s side of the family in Kalamazoo, MI with his siblings Barbara, Lisa, Fred, Tanya and Moni.
Floyd was raised in a family that was very world focused. His father was heavily interested in world politics and his mother was a Holocaust survivor from Germany. By the age of 16, Floyd had already decided that he wanted to become a Marine. Everything he focused on in school, from swimming to running to wrestling, was all a part of his plan in becoming a Marine.
Seven days after graduating from high school in 1968, Floyd enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing infantry and reconnaissance training by the end of August 1968, Floyd was sent to Vietnam from January to December 1969. He initially served with line infantry in combat with C Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, for a month and a half, calling in artillery and serving as the radio man for author Karl Marlantes. He then later transferred to the Bravo Company, 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, where they conducted deep reconnaissance missions inside North Vietnamese Army territory, serving as an assistant team leader. During his time in Vietnam Floyd completed 27 reconnaissance missions and received two purple hearts for his service to our country.
In June of 1970 Floyd began a career on the civilian side, with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Over the course of his 30-year span with the VA, Floyd advanced his way up to become Chief of the Veteran’s Assistance and the Veterans Services Division Manager for the Minnesota VA Regional Office. He also supervised 6 VA overseas Transition Assistance program sites and the Veterans Benefits Counselors running them. Floyd always considered his work at the VA to be one of those miracle jobs that brought so much meaning and gratification to his life, in helping to counsel veterans coming in to apply for benefits and helping to fix their problems.
After attaining the rank of E-7 Gunnery Sergeant with the Marine Reserves, Floyd transferred to the Headquarters Company of the 88th Army Reserve Command and was a First Sergeant of the headquarters. From there he served in the Army Special Operations Command with the Psychological Operations. Floyd served as Command Sergeant Major for the 360th PSYOP BN, the 134th Military Intelligence BN. Combat Electronic Warfare Intelligence during Desert Storm and finished his military career with the Army Reserve 402nd Civil Affairs BN.
Helping and connecting with fellow veterans was always a passion in Floyd’s life. He helped to organize and create the 3rd Recon Association, which is dedicated to connecting the Marines and Navy Corpsmen of the 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division who served in Vietnam. In 1990 they held their first reunion and had over 600 people in attendance. The unit has continued to have reunions ever since. Floyd was also an active member with the 2 Eagles Detachment of Minnesota chapter of the Marine Corps League and the Prior Lake VFW. If there was a project, repair, or brat sale, Floyd was always ready to help.
Floyd lived a very full life even beyond his career with the military and veterans. He was always on a quest for knowledge. He loved learning about the world around him. He was an avid traveler and visited many countries around the world both through his work and as pleasure. His favorite place to spend time though, was relaxing up at his cabin on the North Shore of Lake Superior. He cherished taking trips and hunting for rocks and petrified wood with his wife Jan. He also loved to spend time with his friends, relatives, and especially his two daughters Gina and Danielle, shared with former spouse Diane. A handyman extraordinaire and master gardener, Floyd loved to keep busy with gardens and house projects. If you needed help with your household repair, he would gladly do that too. Need a new bathroom? A four-season porch? A pond for your backyard? Floyd was the friend to call.
Floyd believed it’s good to be ambitious, to have goals, and to want to be good at what you do, but never let ambition get in the way of treating people with kindness and decency. What a good person leaves behind is forever. We are all just occupying a very short piece of time here on Earth, and Floyd hoped that what he did with his time made the world and its’ people better for it- And he absolutely did.
Floyd is preceded in death by his father, Robert Nagler; and mother, Anita Dittman Rowden. He is survived by his wife Jan Franta; daughters, Gina (Tim) Smith and Danielle Nagler; stepmother Elly Nagler; siblings, Jeannette (Ralph Knauss) Lynch, Barbara Nagler, Lisa (John Urbance) Nagler, Tanya (Jonathan) Cunningham, Fred (Elizabeth) Nagler, and Moni (Tom) Allen; and many other relatives and dear friends.
If so inclined, donations can be made in memory of Floyd to the Prior Lake VFW, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Organization, or to a charitable organization of your choice. As Floyd was an avid gardener, flowers are always a welcome token of appreciation too.
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Semper Fe. Dear Floyd Nagel .I will always be honored to call you my friend ..I want to thank you for being A great Marine and continuing to helping people .. I will always remember you thank you, Semper Fe prayers to all your family .And Gods peace to you Floyd .
Jan and family
I’m so sorry to hear about the death of Floyd, he was a very generous and kind man and a good friend to Mike.
My prayers and thoughts are with you during this time of sorrow
My condolences to the family.
He characterized the NCO values and I appreciated and respected his leadership.
Jan and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Floyd was an amazing person who touched the lives of so many. May you find comfort and peace in your memories. He will live on in your hearts forever. Blessings to you all. ❤️
Jan and family. So sorry for your loss
Patty simberg
Such a lovely man. Always in the garden, always helping everyone. We’ll miss you, Uncle Floyd 🙂
What a great life and service to his country. Rest in Peace Floyd.
He will be missed, condolences and prayers
A life of Service to Others. Semper Fidelis.
Floyd was my first Sergeant Major when I joined the PSYOP unit at Fort Snelling in 1987. He was an inspirational leader who had certainly collected a large amount of experience in the military, serving our nation. I salute him and his family and friends. God Bless.
Jan, Jeanette and all the family …we’re so sorry this illness took Floyd away too soon. He will be remembered as a caring and fun person.
My dear friend Floyd, how I will miss you and your infectious smile and positive attitude. Thank you for the love and care you gave me during my own difficult time. Thank you also for the love and care you gave to Kevin. May the two of you continue to share garden secrets forever.
Our prayers are with you all. God’s blessings and take care of yourself. We are with you in spirit for sure.
Floyd we never met in person, but you helped me greatly and cheerfully with my battles with our VA system. I know that I am but one of many. We share a history, although at different times. You and your family are in my prayers, Semper Fi.
You will be missed. Continue the march.
I never knew Floyd long but was so impressed with him and his great attitude. W will miss him. My love to his wife Jan Franta.
My condolences to Floyd’s family and friends upon his recent death after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Floyd was a good friend, brother veteran and among the finest soldiers with whom I have ever served. He will be greatly missed.
My condolences to Floyd’s family and friends after his death following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Floyd was a good friend, fellow Vietnam veteran and among the finest soldiers with whom I have ever had the privilege of serving. He will be greatly missed.
Floyd was my CDM in Haiti in 1995, I had recently taken command of the 408th CA BN. He was invaluable to our successful completion of our mission. Floyd and I made many trips to remote areas in the country. Sometimes he was my driver and sometimes we took a chopper. After we both retired from the military he remained a close friend and I will miss him. I extend my condolences to his family. John Caroon LTC ret
May the memories of love, joy and laughter fill your hearts to help to heal your grief.
Condolences, Nanc Schultz
Floyd was the cousin with whom I did not have a relationship until later in my life. About a decade my senior, and living in another state, I heard about him more than saw him. This changed a little when I moved to Minnesota myself. Although I still did not see him much, he regularly included me in group emails talking about his work with veterans, and I learned how much love and attention he had for this. I was a child during the Vietnam war, and did not understand the circumstances of those Americans who fought there. Floyd gave me the gift of his openness and honesty, the first veteran that I could listen to, the person that built a bridge between me and his comrades. This is his gift to me that I will carry.
SEMPER FI Brother. Job well done.
Ron House
Delta Company 3rd Reconnaissance Bn
3D3 1969
Floyd Nagler was a good man and a good friend of mine when we served together at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for many years. I miss him and wish his family all the very best in these most difficult circumstances. Rest in peace, Floyd. A great Marine to the end, you have fought the good fight.
Respectfully,
John M. Gustin
CSM Nagler was and is an inspiration to those who knew him. I proudly served with him in the 407th CA BN and while deployed to Haiti under the United Nation’s Mission – Haiti. When I look at my old blue berret that I wore in Haiti, I often think of CSM Nagler’s friendly smile and can due approach to any task at hand. His advise and opinions were highly sought after and respected. My heart and deepest sympathy is with his family and friends. He will be missed. Gary Uting, MAJ, Ret.
I first met Floyd right at 55 years ago. 8/22 was the start of boot camp, platoon 2068. Then ITR,BITS,and Recon. He excelled in all training. We were together again with C 1/4 somewhere in N I corps. Transferred to 3rd Recon at the same time. He helped me then and continued through the years helping to navigate the VA. Anytime I asked him to help my friends (Navy and Air Force) he did so without hesitation. These guys were so grateful to have his help. To say Floyd was a good man would be an understatement. Integrity seems to be in short supply these days but I think Floyd was born that way. My condolences to all the family and friends that loved him. Thank you Jan for keeping me in the loop. Godspeed Brother SEMPER FIDELIS
I have lost a great friend.
I still remember when Angela and I met Floyd and Jan for the first time at a financial seminar. We exchanged telephone numbers; they called us soon after, and it was an instant friendship.
We often met for drinks, dinners and game nights. I quickly found out that Floyd was a wealth of knowledge. He knew so much about so many things. He was so good at building and fixing things. There is nothing he couldn’t do.
I have so many great memories of our time at his cabin in Grand Marais. He taught me how to fish there. Every morning he and I would slide down the mountain to bottom of the waterfall and start the day fishing. It was heaven. Got home cleaned the fish and ate it same night. Also spent many evenings at Angry Trout.
Floyd was the most genuine, generous, helpful and also hardworking person I have known. This world needs more people like him, and God took him away way too quickly.
Floyd – Hope you are at peace wherever you are, surrounded by waterfalls and plenty of fish to catch.
I am thankful that you were part of our lives. Miss you my friend.
Cyrus
I am truly sorry for your loss. After reading the information above, the world has lost a GREAT MAN. He was one in a million. God doesn’t make many men like him. I also proudly serviced my country in the 24th Infantry Division. I thank him for his military service and his service to all of mankind.
Fred Schramm
Floyd was the best neighbor I could have ever asked for in life. He was always smiling, talkative, helpful and just an amazing and wonderful gentleman. I will truly miss you Floyd you are one in a million. Godspeed my friend.
He was my second 1SG in the 19th PSYOP. At my first Annual Training (I’d been out of Basic/AIT for a couple months) and the unit was horrible. He was an SFC and talked me ‘off the ledge’ as I couldn’t take the stupdity and good old boy unprofessionalism and was ready to walk.
He became 1SG and I retired 29 years later.
My sincere condolences to the Nagler family. Floyd was my 1SG in the 19th PSYOP Company at Ft Snelling, MN. All long serving military members have one person that will always be remembered for their dedication and service. In my nearly 42 years of military service, Floyd was the one I would always think about when making tough decisions. It was “what would Floyd do?” He was truly the epitome of a NCO. Everyone else always came first, regardless of rank. He will be sorely missed by all.
I was a 17 year old boy when I joined the Army Reserves and the 19th PSYOP Company in March of 1983, and Floyd Nagler was my First Sergeant. I remember him as a quiet, self effacing leader who nevertheless exuded competence and confidence. Floyd Nagler epitomized the ideals of honorable military service and he was an inspiration to so many. The stories he would tell us of his experiences in Vietnam were hair-raising. He was my hero and I was in awe of him. Knowing him inspired me to serve for the next 22 years in the reserves. It’s been forty years on, and I still think fondly of him. He will be dearly missed.
Goodbye good friend. You were taken from us too soon. No one can replace you. We are heart broken.
We are so sorry for your loss. Your loss is our loss too. Floyd was an extremely special person to us all.
Jan and Family,
We met you & Floyd after service and careers. He was a very good friend. He was an inspiration and will truly be missed.
Jan, Danielle, Gina and Diane
Tony and I are so very sorry for this tragic loss. Floyd was an amazing man— always with a story, always smiling and incredibly fun to be around. He talked about “his girls” with so much pride and love! I recall that special weekend we all spent at your cabin—fishing, enjoying an incredible fire, spending time in Grand Marais. Great memories with you all and when I find pictures, I’ll send them to you.
Hoping to join you at Ft. Snelling today.
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Jan and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you! God Bless You!