Mureen Eva Bangert, of Seward, went to her home in heaven on March 17, 2021. A woman of faith, she was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Seward at the time of her death.
She was born to Carl and Elsie (Ahlschwede) Gerkensmeyer on Feb. 9, 1922. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ruby and grew up in a loving family on a farm south of Seward. She attended the rural school of St. John Lutheran Church and was confirmed at St. John. She then attended Seward High School. After graduation in 1940, she took classes at Concordia, became an elementary school teacher and for several years she taught at rural schools in Seward County.
On June 15, 1945, Mureen was married to Arthur Bangert at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Middle Creek. Art was a Lutheran school teacher and following Art’s several years of teaching at Immanuel in Middle Creek, the family made a number of moves as Art served at schools in Kenesaw, Utica, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Winfield, Kansas, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and finally back to Seward at Concordia. Through the years, Mureen was always supportive of activities at all the schools and was active in various churches the family attended as well as in the communities. She also taught kindergarten at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Euclid, Ohio.
Art and Mureen were blessed with three children. As parents, they were wonderful role models and set an inspiring example of making Christ the center of their lives.
Mureen was always a lover of flowers and enjoyed tending to her gardens and houseplants. She was also a terrific cook and especially loved baking. Even in later years, she continued baking her popular sugar cookies and cinnamon rolls. She also looked forward to visits from her friends and family and was thrilled when her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to visit.
She is survived by her children and spouses, Linda (William) Buckley, Lincoln, David (Beverly) Bangert, Mequon, Wisconsin, Philip (Sandy) Bangert, Seward; grandchildren, Matthew (Mindy) Buckley, Ames, Iowa, Kristin (Robert) Howard, St. Louis, Missouri, Justin (Amanda) Bangert, Edmund, Oklahoma, Katie Bangert, Seward, Lindsay (Bret) Peiffer, Dallas, Texas, Alex Bangert, Chicago, Illinois; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Art Bangert; parents, Carl and Elsie (Ahlschwede) Gerkensmeyer; brother and wife, Norman and Evelyn Gerkensmeyer; Art’s brothers, sisters and their spouses.
A private funeral service was March 20 with interment at the Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church or Trinity Hope Haitian Feeding Program. Condolences may be left for the family at www.volzkefuneralhome.com.
