Germaine Wangsness, 86, Albert Lea

Published 8:58 am Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Funeral Service for Germaine “Gerry” O. Wangsness, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Bob Weniger will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Wangsness

Gerry died on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester at the age of 86. She was born on Feb. 7, 1924, in Albert Lea, the daughter of John and Esther (Kuethe) Kuehl.

Gerry graduated from Albert Lea High School and then had worked at Woolworths, B&B Café, Hills Gardens, and later Kwik Trip. She was united in marriage to Herman R. Wangsness on Jan. 22, 1944, in Albert Lea. To this union seven children were born: Sharon, Bruce, Bob, Steve, Mike, Jeff and Barry.

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Gerry was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where she had been active in Circle and Bible Study. She had also been a member of the Elks Does and the Eagles Auxiliary. She was very crafty and creative and did a lot of work with ceramics. She enjoyed Tuesday night cribbage, Friday night card games, but especially bingo night.

She will be greatly missed by her children: Sharon Peterson of Stewartville, Bruce (Judi) Wangsness of Wadena, Bob Wangsness of Rochester, Steve (Lori) Wangsness of Rochester, Mike (Wanda) Wangsness of Albert Lea, Jeff (Denise) Wangsness of Oronoco and Barry (Lisa) Wangsness of Northwood, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Gerry was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; parents: John Kuehl and Esther Ruble; stepfather, George Ruble; daughter-in-law, Jodi Wangsness; brothers: Harvey Kuehl and William Kuehl; step-brother, Wilton Wendtland; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Everyone was always welcome in Gerry’s, no one ever left her home hungry.

She had an immense love for her children and grandchildren. She was the center of our world.

The memory of Gerry’s response to everything, “Whatever”, brings smiles to our faces and many warm cherished memories.