Matt Wangler, 92, of Bismarck, passed away July 11, 2022, at Baptist Health and Rehab, Bismarck, ND.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 18, 2022, at Bismarck Funeral Home. Burial will be at 2:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the memorial service. A livestream of the service will be available on the Bismarck Funeral Home Facebook page.
Matt (Matthias) Wangler was born on October 3rd., 1929 to Anton and Katherine (Feist) Wangler in Strasburg, ND. He was raised and educated in Strasburg, graduating in 1947. After graduating high school, he attended Normal and Industrial School in Ellendale, ND and received his teacher certification. He became a rural schoolteacher in Emmons County and taught in a one-room schoolhouse 5 miles north of Linton for 3 years.
Matt had met Alice Neis in High School and then got reacquainted with her at a dance in Linton in January 1950. About a week later, he got up enough nerve to ask her for a date to the movies. By now it was getting close to Valentine’s Day, so he bought her a big box of chocolates. He wasn’t sure, but he thinks that night he got his first kiss. (Well, if he didn’t, he thought he should have!). Their romance quickly blossomed, and they were married on November 16, 1950, in Strasburg, ND.
Matt served with the North Dakota National Guard on Active Duty during the Korean War from 1951-1952. During that time, he was stationed in Fort Rucker, Alabama. After his discharge, they returned to ND and purchased a home in Mandan, where they resided since 1956.
Matt was employed as an Accountant at MDU in Bismarck in November 1952. During this time, he was also a Charter Member and manager of Genie-Watt Credit Union from 1959-1975. He retired from MDU as Payroll Supervisor in February 1991.
The focal point of Matt’s life was when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in February 1976. He was a changed man and spent the rest of his life serving the Lord in various ways. He was an active member in the Gideons, Full Gospel Businessmen’s Association, and prison ministry. His priorities in life were his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and spreading the gospel. Those who knew him would say he always welcomed them with a warm smile, and a witty sense of humor. His hospitable nature and humble spirit will always be remembered and his legacy of service to His Lord will live on in his family.
Matt will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 71 years, Alice; daughters, Mary (Prent) Markel, Donna (David) Miller, Carol (Tim) Dockter, and Rose Wangler; sons, Tony Wangler, John (Debbie) Wangler, Tom (Vicky) Wangler, and Jim (Deanne) Wangler; 24 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; and his brother, Sam Wangler.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Matthias Wangler; brother, Eddie Wangler; and sisters, Regina Morrell, and Rose Meyer.
Please make memorials to the Gideons Circle in memory of Matt at https://www.gideons.org/donate
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