Howard Ove Wangsness

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 1:22 pm

Howard Ove Wangsness, 90, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at the Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah. Visitation was Friday, March 20, from 4-7 p.m. at Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian and one hour before services at the church Saturday. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at Calmar Lutheran Church, Calmar, with Rev. Jesse DeDeyne as the officiant. Burial followed at Calmar City Cemetery, Calmar. Condolences may be left for the family at graufuneralhomes.com. The family requests all memorials be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Calmar. Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian, helped the family with the arrangements.

He was born Feb. 13, 1925, to John E. and Johanna (Strand) Wangsness in Springfield Township.  Howard attended Lee Country School. He was united in marriage to Verna Torkelson Sept. 15, 1950, at First Lutheran Church in West Union. To this union, two children were born: Robert and Julie.
Howard was a farmer, deputy assessor for Winneshiek County and a Marigold Milk delivery man. He lived on the family farm for 86 of his 90 years. He enjoyed traveling with Verna, and woodworking. He had a love for cars and tractors; but most of all, Howard enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. He was a member of the South Winneshiek School Board, Lutheran Brotherhood Regional Board and was a Trinity Lutheran Church trustee and charter member.    

Howard is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Verna Wangsness of Ossian; two children, Robert (Mary) Wangsness of Cedar Rapids and Julie (Ted) Schneider of Prescott, Wis.; one granddaughter, Danielle (Ryan Beck) Wangsness of Cedar Rapids; three great-grandchildren: Nolan, Cade and Harper; one brother, Kenneth (Ila) Wangsness of Allison; one sister, Joanne Egge of Decorah; four sisters-in-law: Norma Wangsness of Decorah, Georgia Snyder of Decorah, Sharon Wangsness of Allison and Daune (Dave) McCulloch of Qunicy, Ill.; and 10 nephews and nine nieces.

Howard is preceded in death by one grandson, Thomas Wangsness; his parents, John and Johanna Wangsness; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lester and Edna Torkelson; his two brothers, Willis and John Wangsness; one sister, Virginia Snyder; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Torkelson and four brothers-in-law: Roy Snyder, Gil Egge, Leslie Torkelson and Loren “Butch” Weselmann.