Funeral services for Melvin Bangert will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Janet White will officiate. Interment will be in Alden Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and again one hour prior to the service at church.

Melvin R. Bangert passed away May 21, 2016, at Autumn Grace Assisted Living in Mankato. He was 88.

Melvin was born May 13, 1928, to Fred and Martha (Schmidt) Bangert near Conger. Mel was raised on the rural Conger farm as one of 14 children. He graduated from Alden High School and married his high school sweetheart, Peggy L. Johnson, on June 6, 1948, at Grace Lutheran Church in Alden.

Mel was a police officer in Albert Lea for 27 years. He was the canine handler of Shep for seven years before becoming lieutenant. After retirement, Mel lived in Arizona with his wife for 10 years from 1988 to 1998. His hobbies included carpentry — building three total houses — riding motorcycle and traveling the country with his wife, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Peggy; children Becky (Kurt) Ross of Cleveland, Richard Bangert of Circle Pines, Julie Miller of Mankato, Timothy (Jody) Bangert of Rochester and Andrea (Alan) Puterbaugh of Star Prairie, Wisconsin; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Richard and Marilyn Johnson, Joyce Johnson, Anita and Claude Seigler, Lee Bangert, Phyllis Bangert, Lorraine Bangert and Bernie Berninzoni; and special niece, LeAnn Juveland.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Pamela Jo Bangert; siblings Carl (Bernice) Bangert, Ernst (Violet) Bangert, Arnold (Wilma) Bangert, Arthur (Helen) Bangert, Fredrick (Marion) Bangert, Werner Bangert, Harold Bangert, Louise (Arthur) Neist, Marie (LeRoy) Erickson, Margaret (William) Prihoda, Elvira (Sylvan) Foss, Maevis (Lester) Chapman and Eileen Berninzoni; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Don and Marie Johnson, Gordon Johnson and Carol Peterson.

Memorials preferred to Albert Lea Hospice.