Elizabeth Susanne Zangel
October 5, 1917 ~ October 25, 2021
Elizabeth Susanne Hartung-Zangel, age 104, died peacefully of advanced age on Monday, October 25, 2021in Reston, Virginia.
Elizabeth was born in a “1800 Settler’s home” located on her parent’s farm just outside the city of New Ulm, Minnesota on Friday, October 5, 1917. The birth certificate recorded that she was the only child delivered by her father Joseph. Her parents were Susan Antoinette Leick born in Madelia, MN (1884) and Joseph Hartung born in Mankato, MN. (1879). At the age of 3 Elizabeth moved with parents and 6 siblings to their new farm in Fairfax, MN. Interesting her last years were spent in another Fairfax…Fairfax County, Virginia.
Elizabeth and Clarence met at a family Schroedl Wedding Anniversary gathering in Fairfax, MN. Clarence was quite smitten with Elizabeth and drove to her parent’s farm the next Sunday asking for their permission to take her out on a date. Elizabeth’s parents liked this quiet, handsome, polite and Catholic young man from the moment they met him. A year later, Clarence asked Elizabeth to marry him, it was the first day of the rest of their life (married 62 years). They settled in New Ulm, MN for 36 years, then retired in Necedah, WI for the next 38 years.
Elizabeth and Clarence Zangel were united in marriage at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Fairfax, MN on June 28, 1939, Church of Elizabeth family since childhood. Elizabeth’s life was one of love for God, their Church, husband, children and her many family members and friends. In retirement, Elizabeth and Clarence where very involved in their church and church ministries. Elizabeth and Clarence attended daily morning Mass, worked at the Infant Home for unwed mothers and freely took in mothers until their baby was born, spent hours planting and tending flowers around the Mediatrix of Peace Shrine grounds, gave Shrine tours, worked in the school thrift shop, made rosaries and scapulars for the missions, participated in many Pro-Life marches in Washington DC (the last being in 2020 with her Church group), and most of all she was known for being a good listener to her family and friends.
In 2013, Elizabeth moved in with her daughter Judith and husband Leonard. Elizabeth found a new joy in being near her daughters Judith and Jane and their families in Oak Hill, Virginia. Days were filled with attending great-grandchildren’s school functions, games, birthdays and most important were the shared Holidays. Her greatest joy was to attend daily morning Mass for the 10 years she was in Virginia, in the last years we were unable to attend Church due to Covid-19. For nine years she attended an adult daycare center, enjoying the bus rides home with her friends. Elizabeth’s last day attending Insight Memory center was March 13, 2020, when the center closed due to Covid-19. Elizabeth had a best friend Larraine Mueller who she spoke to almost every day for 20 years until Elizabeth’s passing.
In 2017, Elizabeth celebrated her 100th Birthday traveling back to Necedah, WI to visit the Shrine she loved so much and visiting with friends of over 30 years. She also spent time in her childhood hometown of Fairfax, MN with family who participated in a Mass at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, followed by a luncheon. Another gathering took place in New Ulm, MN with Zangel-Schroedl family. The final leg of the trip, she visited Mankato, MN for the Hartung cousins gathering. In November, Elizabeth had a celebration at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, in Reston, VA. Special Mass was co-celebrated with cousin Fr. Ed Griesemer followed by a gathering in the Church Hall for breakfast and Birthday cake.
Elizabeth celebrated her 104th birthday with family, friends, and neighbors and having a fire truck drive-by, made especially memorable, as it was the last time she played her special harmonica.
Elizabeth is survived by her 4 Children **Clarence R. Zangel, Albuquerque, NM:** Judith A Mandrgoc & Leonard P. +, Oak Hill, VA; **Jane B. Benson, Oak Hill,VA; **Joseph J & Theresa Zangel, Eden Prairie, MN; 13 Grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren: *Barry J Zangel +; *Kelly K. & Paul Kunkel (Elysse & Elliott Strom, Glynnis & Zachary Ruiz, Forrest & Grace Kunkel): *Matthew Mandrgoc and Leslie Mandrgoc (Elizabeth, Lauren, Caroline) *Michelle & Fred Blackburn, Aldie, VA (Trent, Kyle, Gavin); *Michael & Donna O’Hare Mandrgoc (Kevin, Megan); *Mark & Mary Mandrgoc (Austin, Sydney); *Elizabeth & Brian Tarallo (Clair, Nora, Graham, Bowen); *Paul & Lisa Benson (Olivia), *Virginia & Zach Hanson (Ava, Lilly), *Joseph & Angela Zangel (Maverick); *Christa & Matthew Gawarecki (Eloise, Aaron) *Grace Zangel; *Anna Zangel.
**Only surviving sister from 11 siblings, Germaine F. Kuglin, Spring Lake Park, MN
Mass will be on Tuesday, November 23, 2021at 11 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
Elizabeth will have a celebration of life with Requiem Mass in Necedah, WI in May 2022 and she will be buried next to her husband at that time. Memorial can be sent to Pro Life - March for Life Washington DC donation Marchforlife.org or House of Prayer and Shrine in Necedah, WI. My God and My Country INC. W 5703 Shrine Road Necedah, WI 54646
Elizabeth was born in a “1800 Settler’s home” located on her parent’s farm just outside the city of New Ulm, Minnesota on Friday, October 5, 1917. The birth certificate recorded that she was the only child delivered by her father Joseph. Her parents were Susan Antoinette Leick born in Madelia, MN (1884) and Joseph Hartung born in Mankato, MN. (1879). At the age of 3 Elizabeth moved with parents and 6 siblings to their new farm in Fairfax, MN. Interesting her last years were spent in another Fairfax…Fairfax County, Virginia.
Elizabeth and Clarence met at a family Schroedl Wedding Anniversary gathering in Fairfax, MN. Clarence was quite smitten with Elizabeth and drove to her parent’s farm the next Sunday asking for their permission to take her out on a date. Elizabeth’s parents liked this quiet, handsome, polite and Catholic young man from the moment they met him. A year later, Clarence asked Elizabeth to marry him, it was the first day of the rest of their life (married 62 years). They settled in New Ulm, MN for 36 years, then retired in Necedah, WI for the next 38 years.
Elizabeth and Clarence Zangel were united in marriage at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Fairfax, MN on June 28, 1939, Church of Elizabeth family since childhood. Elizabeth’s life was one of love for God, their Church, husband, children and her many family members and friends. In retirement, Elizabeth and Clarence where very involved in their church and church ministries. Elizabeth and Clarence attended daily morning Mass, worked at the Infant Home for unwed mothers and freely took in mothers until their baby was born, spent hours planting and tending flowers around the Mediatrix of Peace Shrine grounds, gave Shrine tours, worked in the school thrift shop, made rosaries and scapulars for the missions, participated in many Pro-Life marches in Washington DC (the last being in 2020 with her Church group), and most of all she was known for being a good listener to her family and friends.
In 2013, Elizabeth moved in with her daughter Judith and husband Leonard. Elizabeth found a new joy in being near her daughters Judith and Jane and their families in Oak Hill, Virginia. Days were filled with attending great-grandchildren’s school functions, games, birthdays and most important were the shared Holidays. Her greatest joy was to attend daily morning Mass for the 10 years she was in Virginia, in the last years we were unable to attend Church due to Covid-19. For nine years she attended an adult daycare center, enjoying the bus rides home with her friends. Elizabeth’s last day attending Insight Memory center was March 13, 2020, when the center closed due to Covid-19. Elizabeth had a best friend Larraine Mueller who she spoke to almost every day for 20 years until Elizabeth’s passing.
In 2017, Elizabeth celebrated her 100th Birthday traveling back to Necedah, WI to visit the Shrine she loved so much and visiting with friends of over 30 years. She also spent time in her childhood hometown of Fairfax, MN with family who participated in a Mass at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, followed by a luncheon. Another gathering took place in New Ulm, MN with Zangel-Schroedl family. The final leg of the trip, she visited Mankato, MN for the Hartung cousins gathering. In November, Elizabeth had a celebration at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, in Reston, VA. Special Mass was co-celebrated with cousin Fr. Ed Griesemer followed by a gathering in the Church Hall for breakfast and Birthday cake.
Elizabeth celebrated her 104th birthday with family, friends, and neighbors and having a fire truck drive-by, made especially memorable, as it was the last time she played her special harmonica.
Elizabeth is survived by her 4 Children **Clarence R. Zangel, Albuquerque, NM:** Judith A Mandrgoc & Leonard P. +, Oak Hill, VA; **Jane B. Benson, Oak Hill,VA; **Joseph J & Theresa Zangel, Eden Prairie, MN; 13 Grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren: *Barry J Zangel +; *Kelly K. & Paul Kunkel (Elysse & Elliott Strom, Glynnis & Zachary Ruiz, Forrest & Grace Kunkel): *Matthew Mandrgoc and Leslie Mandrgoc (Elizabeth, Lauren, Caroline) *Michelle & Fred Blackburn, Aldie, VA (Trent, Kyle, Gavin); *Michael & Donna O’Hare Mandrgoc (Kevin, Megan); *Mark & Mary Mandrgoc (Austin, Sydney); *Elizabeth & Brian Tarallo (Clair, Nora, Graham, Bowen); *Paul & Lisa Benson (Olivia), *Virginia & Zach Hanson (Ava, Lilly), *Joseph & Angela Zangel (Maverick); *Christa & Matthew Gawarecki (Eloise, Aaron) *Grace Zangel; *Anna Zangel.
**Only surviving sister from 11 siblings, Germaine F. Kuglin, Spring Lake Park, MN
Mass will be on Tuesday, November 23, 2021at 11 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
Elizabeth will have a celebration of life with Requiem Mass in Necedah, WI in May 2022 and she will be buried next to her husband at that time. Memorial can be sent to Pro Life - March for Life Washington DC donation Marchforlife.org or House of Prayer and Shrine in Necedah, WI. My God and My Country INC. W 5703 Shrine Road Necedah, WI 54646
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Betty was an absolute, sterling example of a down-to-earth and faith-filled woman. I have the best memories of her playing her harmonica, giving Insight staff advice on family life, and even suggesting I name my baby “John Paul” after the Saint/Pope! She was so sharp, completely good natured, and so very kind. She was a gift to the world for her wonderful 104 years! May her soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. With love, Stephanie Houpt, Insight