GRINNELL, Iowa — Ned Postels, a three-year basketball letterman at the University of Iowa and a member of Iowa’s 1945 Big Ten championship team, passed away on April 8. He was 96.

A native of Mankato, Minnesota, Postels graduated from Loyola High School in Mankato. He attended South Dakota State for one year, where he was a member of the North Central Conference championship team. He then transferred to Iowa, where he was a letterman from 1944-46. The Hawkeyes posted a three-year record of 45-9, including a 17-1 mark during the 1945 championship season. Under Hall of Fame coach Pops Harrison the Hawkeyes finished second, first, and third in the Big Ten over the three-year period. Postels served as co-captain on the 1944-45 team.

Postels earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa in civil engineering and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. During his career, Postels was employed as a civil engineer for Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois, where he was a part of their College Graduate Program and worked in field research for two years. He was employed by Beatrice Foods from 1949 until 1975. Returning to Grinnell in 1975, he took ownership of Grinnell Beverage, while he and his wife, Reba, also owned and operated Wayside Florist and the Grinnell Nursery. The Postels endowed the Ned & Reba Postels Family Basketball Scholarship at the University of Iowa.

During his time with Caterpillar, Postels played basketball for Caterpillar’s AAU team, which won an Illinois State AAU championship and competed in the national tournament in Denver.

Postels is survived by his two children, Dick (Bev) Postels of Montezuma, Iowa, and Joanie (Arnie) Heimsoth of Grinnell; six grandchildren, three great-granddaughters, two step-grandchildren, and three step-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Reba; and a brother, Benjamin Postels.

Memorials may be designated to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, UICA (University of Iowa Center for Advancement), or to Carver Family Center for Macular Degeneration Enrichment Fund, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Ned’s family online at www.smithfh.com.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 1, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Grinnell. Interment will be held at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. A full obituary can be found at https://legcy.co/2XKmSJj.

TRAER, Iowa – James Youel, a three-year football letterman at the University of Iowa in the 1940’s, passed away on April 9. He was 98.

Youel was born February 13, 1922 in Vinton, Iowa, before growing up in Fort Madison. He graduated from

Fort Madison High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and track. He attended Iowa on a football scholarship as a freshman in 1939 and later becoming a three-year letterman. He earned his degree in mechanical engineering.

Youel served in the United States Navy from 1944-45. He was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, where he played quarterback for Coach Paul Brown, later of the Cleveland Browns. After his time in the Navy, Youel was drafted into the National Football League, where he played for the Washington Redskins and served as the understudy for three seasons to NFL Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh.

After retiring from the NFL in 1948, Youel worked in Washington, DC as an engineer. In 1954, Jim returned home to Fort Madison, and started a career at Ft. Madison High School as a mathematics teacher and head football coach, eventually adding athletic director to his duties.

Fort Madison has had three undefeated football seasons, including Youel’s teams of 1961 and 1966. He finished his teaching and coaching career at Danville High School prior to retiring in 1987. In 1988, Youel was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the Fort Madison High School Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2008, FMHS honored Youel by naming the high school’s football stadium field ‘Jim Youel Field’.

Youel is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and his long-time friend and companion, Carolyn Elwell of Fort Madison. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Jolie Youel of Paisley, Florida, in 2019, and his granddaughter, Maggie Youel of Crystal Lake, Illinois in 2015.

In accordance with his wishes, Youel’s body has been donated to the anatomy department of the University of Iowa and there will be no service or memorial fund. Sympathy cards can be sent to: Josh Youel, 209 Taylor St., Traer, Iowa 50675.

A full obituary can be found at https://legcy.co/3csRDH0

Former Iowa Hawkeye basketball player Cordell Pemsl has committed to transfer to Virginia Tech.

Pemsl decided earlier this month to graduate and transfer to another school after spending four years in Iowa City.

Pemsl played in 96 games for the Hawkeyes, starting 14 of those. He averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Pemsl has fought through a number of injuries throughout his career and took a medical Redshirt in the 2018-19 season after having knee surgery.

Virginia Tech went 16-16 this past season and finished 7-13 in the ACC.