Howard Wangsness

HOWARD WANGSNESS

Ossian

Howard Ove Wangsness, 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah.

He was born Feb. 13, 1925, to John E. and Johanna (Strand) Wangsness in Springfield Township, Iowa. Howard attended Lee Country School. He was united in marriage to Verna Torkelson on Sept. 15, 1950, at First Lutheran Church in West Union. To this union, two children were born, Robert and Julie.

Howard was a farmer, deputy assessor for Winneshiek County and a Marigold milk deliveryman. He lived on the family farm for 86 of his 90 years.

He enjoyed traveling with Verna and woodworking. He had a love for cars and tractors, but most of all, Howard enjoyed spending time with his friends and family.

He was a member of the South Winneshiek school board, Lutheran Brotherhood Regional board and was a Trinity Lutheran Church trustee and charter member.

Howard is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Verna Wangsness of Ossian; two children, Robert (Mary) Wangsness of Cedar Rapids and Julie (Ted) Schneider of Prescott, Wis.; one granddaughter, Danielle (Ryan Beck) Wangsness of Cedar Rapids; three great-grandchildren, Nolan, Cade and Harper; one brother, Kenneth (Ila) Wangsness of Allison, Iowa; one sister, Joanne Egge of Decorah; four sisters-in-law, Norma Wangsness of Decorah, Georgia Snyder of Decorah, Sharon Wangsness of Allison and Daune (Dave) McCulloch of Qunicy, Ill.; 10 nephews and nine nieces.

Howard was preceded in death by one grandson, Thomas Wangsness; his parents, John and Johanna Wangsness; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lester and Edna Torkelson; his two brothers, Willis and John Wangsness; one sister, Virginia Snyder; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Torkelson; and four brothers-in-law, Roy Snyder, Gil Egge, Leslie Torkelson and Loren "Butch" Weselmann.

Visitation will be Friday, March 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian, and one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at Calmar Lutheran Church, Calmar, with the Rev. Jesse DeDeyne as officiant. Burial will follow at Calmar City Cemetery, Calmar.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.grau funeralhomes.com.

The family requests all memorials be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Calmar.

Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian, is helping the family with arrangements.