Nina Wargel

Nina L. Wargel, Eldorado, Illinois, died at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, on June 5, 2025, surrounded by her family. Nina’s earthly life was taken by metastatic mucosal melanoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that is often difficult to diagnose and usually in late stage. Discovered on March 17, 2025, Nina’s tumor rapidly spread. She received one immunotherapy treatment before her body became too weak and consumed by pain.

Nina was born on July 5, 1964, in Shelbyville, Illinois, the daughter of Charles J. and Mary Beth Maloney Wargel of rural Equality, Illinois. She moved with her family to the Hamilton Farm in Gallatin County where she graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School and later Ridgway High School in 1982. In 1986, she graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development. Nina’s career began in daycare at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. She then worked as the director of daycare at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, Illinois. In 1996, she returned to Gallatin County where she worked with AmeriCorps and helped establish the day care program at Southeastern Illinois College. In 1997, she began her 28-year career with the Childcare Resource and Referral Network where she held many positions before working as the Coordinator for Quality Control, providing support and training to early childhood professionals—including administering a state grant program to help provide quality childcare for the southernmost 15 counties in Illinois. She was a Certified Statewide Trainer in a wide variety of specialized curricula, a Child Development Associate Advisor, and a registered trainer for the Gateways to Opportunity Statewide Training Registry. Since its inception, she coordinated the region’s Quality Counts Grant Program for childcare providers in the southern region. Lastly, she was the treasurer for the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families from its creation in 2016. Nina enriched the lives of her co-workers, the day care professionals she served, and the countless children who benefited from her caring heart.

Nina was dedicated to the Catholic community at St. Kateri Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir and volunteered as cantor, eucharistic minister, and lector. Nina was always up to the task to support St. Kateri in any way necessary. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella Altar Society and led the group for many years. Nina worked tirelessly to serve her community, her church, and her family, leading the care brigade for our parents in their later years. She truly had a giving heart.

Nina is survived by her father, Charles J. Wargel, her sisters and brother, Donna Scheppe (Bill), Helen Wargel, Thomas Wargel (Claudine), Teresa Boulds (Brady) and Katie Anderson (Michael), her nieces and nephews, Andrew Scheppe, Karalyn Scheppe, Kathleen Scheppe (Anshika), Landon Wargel, Kinser Wargel, Logan Boulds (Sara), Noah Boulds, Ely Boulds and one great-nephew and niece, Moxley Boulds and Hazel Boulds. She is also survived by her uncle, Bob Wargel, her aunt, Frances (Tony) Traweek and many beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Beth, grandparents, Daniel and Margaret Maloney, and Joseph and Rose Wargel, along with one infant brother, Joseph and many aunts and uncles.

Nina is also survived by her cherished friends, Tory and Chris Wargel, Ginny and Kevin Bouse, Lori and John Longueville, and cherished cousin, Kristi Rose and Fats Kaplin. Her family thanks them profusely for their love, care, and counsel provided to Nina throughout her life and especially during her illness.

To know Nina was to love Nina. She was joyful and fun. While she loved her job, her church, her community, and her friends, it was her family that Nina cherished the most. We don’t know how to live without Nina in our world, but we know the world will continue to be a better place because Nina will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

A funeral visitation will begin with a prayer service led by Father Tom Barrett at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Cox & Son Funeral Home located at 209 S. Jarrell Street, Ridgway, Illinois. Visitation will conclude at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass is Thursday, June 12, 2025, at St. Kateri Church, 220 South Combs Street, Ridgway, Illinois, at 10:00 AM with burial to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Ponds Settlement. Mass will be livestreamed via St. Kateri Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Kateri Church, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, or Ridgway Popcorn Day.

Her illness, like her life, was short and intense. As we mourn, please focus on how she lived her life selflessly and with joy and generosity. Please share with us how she impacted you in positive ways and not upon the cancer that cut her life short. Notecards will be provided for you to share your favorite memory or story about Nina. We look forward to you joining us as we celebrate Nina’s life. With gratitude, the Wargel Family.