Wilma Wangen

The Funeral Service for Wilma Elmira Wangen, of Albert Lea , will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 28, 2009 at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Reverend John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery . Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Wilma died on Tuesday morning, August 25, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Home. She was 91. Wilma was born on October 15, 1917, in Minnesota the daughter of Henry and Josephine “Josie” (Jacobson) Berhow. Wilma’s early years were spent on a farm near Blue Earth, and then the family moved to Albert Lea where she graduated from high school. She married Odin C. Wangen on October 23, 1937, in Northwood , Iowa . Wilma worked in the lifestock office at Wilson & Co. for 28 years . She was a member of First Lutheran Church where she had been active in a circle and was a volunteer in the church office. She enjoyed maintaining her home, and working in her large vegetable garden and flower garden. Wilma is survived by her son Roger Wangen and his wife Mary Lou of Rome , WI. , grandchildren: Eric (Tonya) Wangen, Lisa (Brian) Frost, Jeffrey (Dalcimar) Wangen; great grandchildren: Emily, Hannah, Abby, Steven, and Scott; a brother Milford (Helen) Berhow of Rochester , MN .

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Odin in 1962, brothers: Kenneth, Wayne, Henry “Hank” Jr., and Harlen Berhow; sisters: Hazel Mitchell, Mae Eldredge, Fern Gramm, and Erma Pollei. Her second husband LeRoy “Roy” C. Merkel also preceded her in death. Memorials suggested to First Lutheran Church .