Roy E. Wangerin, 97

Roy Emil Wangerin was born at the home 7.5 miles North of Kensington on September 13, 1921, the fifth of seven children born to Franz and Estella (Vasey) Wangerin. He passed away quietly on April 6, 2019 at the Smith County Memorial Hospital at the age of 97. He was baptized at First Saint John Lutheran Church, Germantown on October 9, 1921. He was confirmed on May 31, 1936. He attended the one room Wangerin school until high school age. He graduated from Kensington High School in 1940. Only two years later as war had broken out, he enlisted in the United States Marine Air Corp in September of 1942. He served in the Southwest Pacific area during many of the campaigns as an aerial photographer and a photographic lab manager. Part of that time he served aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Essex. Photography would become a life-long passion for him. During his leave he met and married the love of his life. He married Mae Oetter on August 28, 1944 in Palms, California and within only a day or two had to return to the Pacific theater. Following the end of the war, he was discharged in October, 1945. He returned to Mae and the family farm. During the ensuing years 7 children were born to this union. Steven, James, Jeanne, Suzanne, Nancy, Fred, and Ruth. He continued working the family farm sharing cattle, equipment, and harvesting with his brother, Leland. In 1964 he began a Grade C dairy and eventually became a Grade A dairy until 1987 when he discontinued it. He and Mae moved to a home in Kensington where he resided until his death. The move to town did not curtail his love for the farm. He could still be found doing fieldwork, repairing machinery, mowing, or any of the other myriad of things it took to keep a farm going.
Roy was faithful life-long member of First Saint John Lutheran Church. He served on various boards during that time. He earned his Private Pilot license in 1964 and marked that occasion by landing his plane at the farm. He enjoyed deer hunting and river fishing in his younger years. He was very community minded serving on many boards. He served on the Rural Fire Board. He also served on the board of the Kensington Cooperative Association. He was a charter member of the Kensington Lions Club. He was a 70 year member of the Fred Marran Post 166 of the American Legion. He was member of the Mount Surabachi Marine Corp League and served a term as State Commandant.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Mae; a daughter, Nancy Lemon; sons, James and Fred; parents, Franz and Estella (Vasey) Wangerin; sisters, Vera Henkel and Edith LaGasse; brothers, Clarence, Leland, and Merlin.
He is survived by a sister, Juanita Reneberg of Kensington; daughters, Jeanne and husband Rob Bogart of Kensington, Suzanne Faulkner of Kensington, and Ruth Fouts of Kensington; a son, Steven and wife Lynda of Kensington; grandchildren, Justin Bogart and wife, Kodey of Merritt Island, Florida, Curtis Bogart and wife, Krista of Gunnison, Colorado, Stewart Bogart and wife, Jennifer of Olathe, Kansas, Stephanie Faulkner of Kansas City, Chris Faulkner and wife, Jasey of Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado, Brandon Fouts of Hays, Nicole and husband, Dan Glynn of Phillipsburg, Kansas, and Keith Wangerin of Kensington, Kansas; great-grand-children, Lincoln Glynn, Harley Glynn, Nate Bogart, Nola McKnight, Noah Bogart, Riley Bogart, Sadie Bogart, Morgan Bogart, Emma Bogart, Jack Bogart, Kylie Fouts, and Lucinda Faulkner. And a host of family and friends.
He will be greatly missed and always remembered...
A celebration of Roy's life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 20, 2019 at First Saint John Lutheran Church, Kensington, KS, with Pastor Dave Hutson officiating. There will not be a public visitation as cremation was chosen. Inurnment will take take place in Germantown Cemetery, Kensington, KS. Memorials may be given to Roy E. Wangerin Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS 66967.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA