Arlington Heights businessman Nebel remembered as gregarious and honest

Harold Nebel, known better as “Curly,” was gregarious, upbeat and a friend to everyone, family and friends said Tuesday of the first State Farm insurance agent in the suburbs west of Des Plaines.

It didn’t even faze the Arlington Heights native when he was using crutches because of a horrible accident in France during World War II, and the girl he had his eye on said she only had time for dates that involved dancing.

He recovered to eventually take June Buckmeier dancing, and they were married 65 years before his death Monday. He was 87.

“He was gregarious and happy; he would always tease me,” Village President Arlene Mulder said of the lifelong Arlington Heights resident. “He had a positive outlook and tried to make people feel comfortable and enjoy themselves.”

Marilyn Hermann, who worked with Nebel for 42 years, said they joked that their claim to fame was being among eight people who attended the first National Bosses’ Day lunch in Deerfield in 1958.

“He was honest and trusting and as a result he was very successful,” said Hermann. “He got into the business at the right time, and as the town grew the business grew, and for a long time we were the most productive State Farm agency in Illinois.”

Nebel was a past president of the Arlington Heights Rotary Club, sergeant in a rifle squad for the Arlington Heights post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a lifelong, dedicated member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He and his wife gave generously to Northwest Community Hospital and lived in Luther Village.

“When they had to leave their home because it had too many stairs, he said he was not leaving Arlington Heights. Period. There was no way he was leaving his hometown,” said their son, Randy, who lives in Wadsworth.

Besides his wife and Randy, Nebel is survived by daughter Dawneen Blakeslee, of Idaho, son Jack Nebel of Inverness, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road. For more information, visit www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.

Visitation also will be held from noon until 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, preceding services at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 111 W. Olive, Arlington Heights. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Peter.