About 400 people gathered for the funeral of former Albert Lea Mayor Marv Wangen Thursday at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Friday, January 25, 2002

About 400 people gathered for the funeral of former Albert Lea Mayor Marv Wangen Thursday at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Family members Aaron Wangen and Janis Deyak made addresses and praised their father’s strength and humor.

Former US representative Tim Penny, Wangen’s longtime friend and political partner, paid tribute to Wangen’s dedication to the city.

&uot;His focus was the city,&uot; he said. &uot;I was not the only one who encouraged Marv to run for state legislature. However, he was content to stay at the city level and to be behind the scenes of the others’ campaigns for state and federal offices, even though with his 25-year career in the city he would have easily gotten elected.&uot;

A long list of Wangen’s activities – art, history, travel, motorcycles, politics, writing, teaching, humor and story telling, play writing – was read during the funeral.