Wilfred "Willy" Walter Gengler

Wilfred Walter Gengler

Chesaning, Michigan

Passed away Saturday, September 12, 2015, at his niece’s home.  Age 88.  Visitation will be at St. Michael Catholic Church, Maple Grove on Monday, September 14 from 9:00-11:00 a.m.  His Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at the church with Father John Cotter officiating.  Burial will be at a later date. 

Wilfred was born August 21, 1927, in Chesaning, MI to Isadore Dominic Gengler and Cecilia Clara Cieslinski.  He went to Our Lady School, Chesaning and Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, MI.  He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict.  He was a Corpsman and went in three days after the atomic bomb was dropped to rescue U.S. soldiers.  Will had worked at General Motors and retired as a Lieutenant in Plant Protection.  He was a leader in the Red Cross Blood Drives, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

Wilfred married Angeline Janca on November 7, 1953, and they had three children, Wilfred Jr. and deceased daughters Debra and Valerie.  He was also preceded in death by his wife, Angeline.  Wilfred also adopted and sponsored Fr. Ignatius Ekka of India.  He has two grandchildren, Crystal (Ryan) Harper and Nicholas Gengler; and three great-grandchildren.  Will’s siblings are Lillian (Phil) Bitterman (deceased), Isabelle Birchmeier and (Philinus, deceased), Raymond (Diane) and James (Ann).  There are numerous nieces and nephews.

Special thanks are given to a special niece, Millie and Charlie Schramm, and McLaren Hospice and Dobson Home Health aides Linda and Kathy who have been loving care takers of Wilfred.  A special thank you is to Will’s parish, St. Michael Catholic Church, Maple Grove.

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