Nell was born into a modest farming family, the oldest of six, working the fields and raising her siblings from a young age. She always worked the earth, loved planting, harvesting and tending her endless flowers outside, and houseplants inside. Nell loved a tidy well-maintained home. Nell took great joy in sharing a huge vegetable garden with her next door neighbors, Ms. Kay Powell and Kay’s brother Tim. She especially loved tomatoes, but would eat almost any vegetable. She also raised many fruit bearing trees including, but not limited to, pear and fig trees.
Nell loved birds. She kept the bird feeders located around her home well stocked with birdseed all year. She would become excited if she saw a rare bird, and would view the event as a thing of importance and of great note.
Nell was a selfless caregiver to the young and old. She helped take care of her husband’s mother, aunt, and cousin when they became infirm. Nell was mother to all children and teenagers. After retiring as manager of Jerrys Food & Pharmacy, Nell worked as a substitute teacher—until her six grand-children came along. Nell never met a baby that she didn’t want to hold. When working the register in the family’s grocery store, Nell would often volunteer to hold a customer’s baby. She adored time talking and playing with children. Nell’s mantra for years was, “I’d do anything for my kids”.
Nell passionately supported her children and grandchildren, with seemingly boundless energy and compassion. In her eyes, each of her grandchildren were prefect and could not do wrong. There was nothing she adored more than spending time with her grandchildren.
For short periods, Nell took into her home several of her children’s friends. The door was always open to a friend in need; Nell was always glad to welcome someone to her table.
Nell believed in hard work. She and her husband, Jerry, worked side-by-side at Jerry’s Giant Foods located in downtown Cullman across the street from what is now Depot Park. In the early 1990s, Jerry relocated his grocery store off Highway 157 (now a Marvin’s Home Improvement store), and rebranded the establishment as Jerry’s Food and Pharmacy Haus. Nell often worked twelve hour days. When she got home from work, she would head to her garden or immediately begin doing housework. Nell retired with the store’s closing in 2002.
In retirement, Nell became an avid Major League Baseball fan. She especially enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves.
Nell, born a Protestant, became Catholic upon marrying Jerry. She joined Sacred Heart Church, her husband’s parish. Nell loved attending church with her family, and, she volunteered countless hours to Sacred Heart’s local St. Vincent de Paul Society, Sacred Heart School, and other such church-related groups.
Nell married the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Link Loegler, on March 13, 1962, at 7 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Jerry was from Cullman, Alabama. They remained married until her death—after more than 62 years of marriage. Nell was Jerry’s partner and rock. She devoted her entire existence to his care when dementia confined him to a bed in the last two years of his life. Jerry and Nell’s love was so great that less than 24 hours after his death, Nell passed away peacefully as well. She often referred to Jerry as her “greatest treasure.”
Nell was preceded in death by: her parents, H. R. “Red” Golden and Myrtle Golden; her brothers, Jerry Golden, Jimmie Golden, and Joseph Golden; her oldest son, Sean Loegler; and one granddaughter, Ruby Loegler Haig.
Nell is survived by: three children, Link (Elizabeth) Loegler, Marcus (Jessica) Loegler, and Laura “Sissy” (Bagus) Loegler-Haig; six grandchildren, Margaret Loegler, Lukas Loegler, Liam Loegler, Ayla Loegler, Pria Loegler, and Tucker Loegler Haig; one brother, Earnie “Van” (Nancy) Golden; one sister, Marlin (Terry) Jeffers; and several nieces and nephews, including Shane Golden, Jimmy Golden, Akimi Golden, Genise Young, and Jason and Amanda Jeffers.
Special thank you to the team that helped take care of Nell including, but not limited to, John Pippin, Amy Green, and Nancy Shockley. Also, a special thank you to the Sacred Heart Church Eucharistic team that brought Christ to Nell while she and Jerry were confined to their home.
Visitation is on December 15, 2024, at 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Cullman Heritage Funeral Home in Cullman, Alabama. A Rosary at the funeral home will immediately follow visitation. Funeral services are December 16, 2024, at 10:00 am, and will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Cullman, Alabama. A graveside service will follow the funeral services. The graveside services shall be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Those wishing to make a charitable donation in memory of Nell can do so to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 201 3rd Ave. SE, Cullman, AL 35055.
