Edwin J. “Ed” Wanner, 84, of Gladstone, passed away September 7, 2026, at the Hilltop Home of Comfort in Killdeer, North Dakota. Ed’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Justin Waltz as the celebrant. Inurnment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue on Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the church. There will be a rosary & vigil at 6 p.m., Thursday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with Deacon Ross Reiter presiding.
Ed was born April 5, 1942, in Dickinson, the son of Jack and Ida (Muth) Wanner. He grew up on the family farm and attended Newport District grade school and Campus High School in Dickinson. Farming became a way of life for Ed from an early age and remained an important part of who he was throughout his life.
On July 6, 1964, Ed married the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Murphy, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson. Together, Ed and Pat built a life centered around faith, family, hard work, and community, sharing 62 years of marriage.
Following their marriage, Ed and Pat made their home near his parents, where Ed continued farming alongside his father. In 1970, Ed took over the family farm, becoming the fourth generation to farm land originally homesteaded by his grandfather. He spent many years raising cattle, working the land, and carrying forward a family tradition that meant a great deal to him.
Ed was also an entrepreneur at heart. In 1999, he opened The Wurst Shop in Dickinson, combining his skill for making sausage with his outgoing personality and love of people. Ed took great pride in developing and making his own sausage, bratwurst, summer sausage, and other specialties. Just as important as the food were the people who walked through his door. Ed enjoyed visiting with customers, sharing stories, and delivering the quick wit and humor for which he was well known. Over the years, he proudly and playfully embraced his reputation as a local “sausage celebrity.”
Service to others was another important part of Ed’s life. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, serving for a time as Grand Knight, and devoted more than 50 years to the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department. Ed also treasured the friendships he developed throughout the community, including the many conversations, stories, and laughs shared with his Gladstone coffee club.
Above all, Ed loved his family fiercely. Nothing brought him greater pride than the family he and Pat built together. He loved watching that family grow through four children, 12 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, and he treasured the time, stories, and memories he shared with each generation.
Ed is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia “Pat” Wanner; their four children, Sherri Cooke, LaRae Lynch, Brad (Lana) Wanner, and Shannon (Kristen) Wanner; his 12 grandchildren are Amber (Ryan) Park, Lucy (Johnnie) Bird, Samantha (Chris) Thernes, Emily (Jessie) Schmidt, Noel (Tyler) Barth, Tanner (Chelsey) Lynch, Austin Lynch, Jordan (Bailey) Wanner, Kayla (James) Weidow, Javen Johnson, Preston Wanner, and Piper (Kaden) Hintz.
Ed’s 18 great-grandchildren include Finley Park; JohnnieRay and Ashton Bird; Scarolett and Sawyer Schmidt; Hayden and Camden Barth; Kalvin, Dennis, Evelyn, Walter, EllaRae, Si, and Jeffery Lynch; Noa Wanner; Oakley Hintz; Ryan Johnson; and one great-grandchild on the way to Kayla and James Weidow.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Evelyn (Lewis) Rocheford and Barbara (Alan) Syverson; sons-in-law, Scott Cooke and Todd Lynch; great-grandson, Ryan Johnson; and great-granddaughters, Ava Bird, Lillian and Annabelle Park.
Ed will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; a hardworking farmer; a businessman and sausage maker; a dedicated volunteer; and a loyal friend. He had a gift for bringing people together, whether around the farm, across the counter at The Wurst Shop, over a cup of coffee, or simply through a good story and a well-timed joke.
His life was rooted in faith, family, friendship, and community. The land he worked, the community he served, the friendships he made, and, most importantly, the family he loved will carry his memory forward for generations.
