Frances Pauline (Koffler) Wanner, 89, Bismarck formerly of Dickinson, died peacefully on Friday, July 11, 2008, surrounded by her 9 children and family. Mass of Christian Burial for Frances will be at 10 a.m., Monday, July 14, 2008 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., with Fr. Keith Streifel presiding.
Frances was born February 2, 1919, in Dickinson, to Anton and Amelia (Fischer) Koffler, and she was the 7th child of 11. She was baptized, confirmed and received first communion at St. Joseph’s Church, Dickinson. She attended St. Joseph’s grade school and Dickinson Central High school. She worked four years at the St. Charles Hotel and it is said that she could get up at five minutes to eight and be to work by eight o’clock, which includes running about a half mile to work.
On September 2, 1941, she married Philip J. Wanner, who she met at a dance about one year earlier. They were married at St. Joseph’s Church with the reception at the German Hungarian Club. Their first year of marriage was spent partly in Dickinson and for about eight months lived on Joe and Mary (Fischer) Bosch’s farm in the Dodge area. They returned to Dickinson where they rented the Huschka house on west Broadway for about 2 years. They bought and renovated their first house in 1944 only a few houses away from where she grew up. They raised seven children at this house and during 1953 they built a home next door, moving in during April 1954.
During their years at Dickinson, they raised nine children, helping all of them through catholic grade school and high school and beyond. Frances was active in cub scouts, serving as den mother and active in boy scouts where one son received the Eagle Scout award. She was a member of St. Anne’s Auxiliary at St. Joseph’s church, where she served as president for four years. She was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Ladies Auxiliary and served as it’s president for many years.
Frances moved to Bismarck in 2000, was admitted and released twice to the St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Bismarck and was able to move to Marillac Manor both times.
She is survived by: children, Robert (Margaret) Wanner, Bismarck, Peggy Barton, Everett, Wash., Philip (Deborah) Wanner Jr., Bismarck, Denis (Mary) Wanner, River Falls, Wis., Timothy (Linda) Wanner, Reno, Nev., William (Mary) Wanner, Bismarck, Charles (Vonnie) Wanner, Phoenix, Ariz., Jane (Craig) Gilchrist, Glasgow, Mont., Kevin Wanner, Bismarck; 31 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren and step-great grandchildren; her sister Irene Sage, Bismarck; and numerous nieces and nephews. Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years Philip on June 19, 1994; one son-in-law Wayne Barton; 9 siblings; and 3 grandsons.
