Nägele was born on 3 September 1918 in Nendeln as the son of farmer and innkeeper Johann Nägele and Theresia Beck as one of ten children.
He attended high school in Feldkirch and then studied medicine in Munich, where he received a doctorate in dentistry.
During this time, he was a member of the finance, audit and state committees.
[1] Nägele married Elsa Matt (16 September 1920 – 13 April 2008) on 29 November 1945 and they had six children together.
[1] He died on 6 April 2011 in Vaduz, aged 92 years old.