Raymond Peter Gengler

Raymond Peter Gengler, 85, of Colman died Thursday, March 13, 2008 at the Dells Area Health Center. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 am. Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at St. Peter Catholic Church, Colman. Burial will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Dell Rapids. Visitation will be from 1-4:00 pm Tuesday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids, with a Rosary at 3:00 PM and resume at 5:30 pm at the St. Peter Catholic Church with a Wake Service at 6:00 PM.

Raymond Peter Gengler was born on January 23, 1923 on a farm near Dell Rapids to parents Nicholas and Mary (Bormann) Gengler. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Catholic Church in Colman, South Dakota, where he remained an active member of the parish, the choir, and served as the treasurer of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

On June 4, 1946, he was united in marriage to Odelia Peplau. Following their marriage they farmed near Colman and raised eight children. Ray retired from farming in the early 1990’s and enjoyed reading, gardening, and woodworking. His family remembers him as a quiet and gentle man who was instilled by a deep faith, devotion and love for his wife and family, and a great respect for the land.

Ray is survived by his children, Kathleen Gengler, Pierre; Marilyn and her husband Allen Heine, St. Helena, NE; Jerome “Jerry” and his wife Patricia Gengler, Dell Rapids; Linda and her husband Freddie Allison, Stafford, VA; Mary and her husband Doug Andersen, Tea; Carol and her husband Rod Yost, Murdock, MN; seventeen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and his sister, Agnes Gengler, Colman.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Odelia on January 23, 1981, and daughters, Jeanne Van Holland and Joyce Parlet.