Stanga, Alan Edward 1937-2021

STANGA, CURRIER, PEARSON, OSTERBERG

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/29/2021 at 13:10:25

Alan E. Stanga, 83, of Sioux Falls passed away on September 7, 2021 at Sanford Hospice Centennial Cottage in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 11 am on Saturday, September 11 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will begin at 10 am. Burial will take place at Center Lutheran Cemetery, rural Salem, at 2:30 pm. The funeral service will be livestreamed and a link will be posted on the funeral home website.

Alan Edward Stanga was born on October 22, 1937 to Walter and Violet (Currier) Stanga in Salem, SD. He graduated from Salem High School and on June 2, 1957, he married Arlys Pearson at Salem Lutheran Church at Center, they recently celebrated 64 years of marriage. Alan went on to receive a B.A. in Music Education from Augustana College in 1960. With this union, Alan and Arlys proudly brought up their two daughters, Patricia and Angela and one son, Douglas.

Alan furthered his education with a Master of Arts in Voice and Choral Music from the University of Iowa in 1966 and further graduate studies at various universities. He began his teaching career at Rock Valley, IA and then moved into Sioux Falls, teaching at Lincoln and Roosevelt High Schools. Over the years, Alan directed numerous choirs and groups, especially enjoying his time with the Mid-Western Ambassadors of Music European Touring Choir from 1985 – 2003. Besides directing numerous high school choirs, Alan also directed numerous church choirs as well as the Sioux Falls Master Singers and the Singing Legionnaires. Alan received numerous awards and was often recognized for his achievements in music. One such award was the Weston H. Noble Award in recognition of Lifetime Achievement in Choral Art from the North Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association in 2016. He also received an award from the SD American Choral Directors Association for "the creation, nurturing and advocacy of the SD High School Honors Choir." Ultimately, Alan enjoyed teaching students to use the instrument God gave them by teaching individual lessons in his own home studio and at O'Gorman High School.

Alan is survived by: his wife, Arlys of Sioux Falls; children Patty Scholl, Angie (Tim) Hitterdal, and Doug (Heather) Stanga; grandchildren Christopher Krumvieda, Christian and Corrina Scholl, Anna (Kevin) Horner, Erika (Jaden) Kasel, Brooke and Luke Stanga; great-grand daughter Korra Scholl; Sister-in-Law Marlys Stanga Haslow and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Violet Stanga; Stepmother Blanche Osterberg; siblings, Phyllis Knudson, Ted (Carol) Stanga, Don Stanga, Son-in-law Bruce Scholl, Brother-in-Law Burnell Knudson, Sister-in-Law Elaine Larson and Will Schubert.

Memorials gifts may be directed to the South Dakota High School Honor Choir Endowment, held at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. To make an online gift, visit sfacf.org, click "give online," then enter "choir" in the search field.

Source: Kinzley Funeral Home online obituary.