Gretchen Lois Wangen, 93

Published 9:24 am Thursday, March 12, 2015

Gretchen Lois Wangen, 93, of Austin, died Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at Sacred Heart Care Center.

Wangen

Gretchen was born June 22, 1921, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the youngest child of Kathryn (Mayer) and W.L. Van Camp. When she was 14 she moved to Austin, Minnesota, where she graduated from Austin High School in 1938.

While employed at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, Gretchen enlisted in the USNR WAVES in September 1943. She reached the rank of Storekeeper 3/C. Gretchen was discharged in December 1945 and returned to employment at the telephone company until June 1948.

On April 19, 1947, she was united in marriage to Orville E. Wangen at Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Austin. They had seven children.

Gretchen was a charter member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church and SPAM POST 570 Amercan Legion.

Survivors include six children: Joan Wangen (Rom Piorkowski), Elkader, Iowa, Barbara (Craig) Laughlin, Plymouth, Minnesota, William (Jodi) Wangen, Austin, Minnesota, Mary (Steve) Riles, Rochester, Minnesota, James (Lynn) Wangen, Edina, Minnesota, Daniel Wangen, Rancho Cordova, California; seven grandchildren; nieces and a nephew.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Orville in 2002; and her son, Edward in 2006.

A funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. There will be a 4 p.m. CCW rosary and a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Military rites will be by American Legion Post No. 91. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice. Condolences may be left at www.mayerfh.com.