Gengler, Al F. "Sonny" 1923-2004

GENGLER, ARENS, PLETSCHETTE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/10/2008 at 21:28:19

LE MARS, Iowa -- Al F. "Sonny" Gengler, 81, of Le Mars died Tuesday, June 29, 2004, at his home in Le Mars.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa, with the Revs. Timothy Johnson and James Tigges officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine's Cemetery at Oyens, Iowa, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 220 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3328. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a parish rosary at 3 p.m., a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m., and a rosary by the Catholic Order of Foresters at 8 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Fisch Funeral Home in Remsen.

Al "Sonny" Gengler was born on June 19, 1923, in rural Oyens, Iowa, the son of Mike and Elizabeth (Arens) Gengler. He was raised in the Oyens and Remsen area and received his education at St. Catherine's Catholic School in Oyens. He then worked at the Oyens Elevator and was a farm laborer in the Oyens area. He entered the U.S. Army on April 6, 1945 and was stationed in Okinawa until being discharged Dec. 5, 1946. He then returned to farming in the Oyens area.

In August of 1949, he married Evelyn Pletschette at Le Mars. They made their home near Sergeant Bluff, where they were engaged in farming. Evelyn died Sept. 13, 1951. In the spring of 1952, Al moved back to the Oyens area to farm. On April 16, 1955, he married Shirley Theisen at Oyens. They made their home near Oyens, where they were engaged in farming for 30 years, retiring in March 1985. In 1986, they moved to Remsen, where Al worked part-time for Moeller Furniture. In March 2004, they moved to Park Place in Le Mars.

Al was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Order of Foresters and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3328.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley of Le Mars; five sons, Paul and Kevin Gengler and his wife, Heidi, all of Le Mars, Melvin and Glen, both of Remsen and Wayne and his wife, Eileen of Spencer, Iowa; eight daughters and their husbands, Judy and Jerry Keffeler, Peggy and Glen Steichen, Bonnie and Ken Ahlers, all of Remsen, Nancy and Mark Ellensohn, Lori and Bob Schlesser, Vicki and Brad Ufken, all of Le Mars, Cindy and Tim Myers of Dakota City, Iowa and Pam and Rick Siders of Sioux City; 33 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Magdalen Weiler of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be Kyle and Chad Schlesser, Neil Ellensohn, David Keffeler, Ryan and Drew Gengler. C.O.F. honorary pallbearers will be Ervin Ahlers, Bob Mai, Paul Pick, Ronald Ruhland, LeRoy Schroeder and Alfred Wilberding.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, July 1, 2004--part of the D. Easton Obituary Collection