Peggy Ann Wanner, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on May 11, 2025 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. She was 70 years old. Peggy’s Celebration of Life Service will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, May 15, 2025 at River of Life Church International, Dickinson with Rev. Jalyn McGill as officiant. There will be a Gathering of Family of Friends and Time of Sharing Stories at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson.
Peggy was born on May 17, 1954, to Alvin and Viola Berg. Peggy was the youngest of four children. She was raised in Bottineau and graduated from Bottineau High School in 1972. After high school she attended North Dakota State University-Bottineau for two years, and later transferred to Dickinson State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. While attending DSU, Peggy worked at the German-Hungarian Club, where she met her future husband, John J. Wanner. The two were married on November 26, 1976.
John and Peggy began their married life in Gladstone, North Dakota, where they welcomed their daughters, Jill (1977) and Julie (1978). The family later moved east of Dickinson so John could pursue farming, and in 1986, their son John Christopher was born, completing their family.
Peggy worked in retail for several years then returned to her first love, teaching elementary education. She continued to teach until her retirement in 2015. With teaching being a life-long passion, she resumed substitute teaching until her death. She especially cherished her years at South Heart School District, where she lit up the classroom with her enthusiasm and compassion.
Peggy’s children were her greatest joy. She had a blast visiting them in college and spoiling them with trips to Sam’s Club and cooking for all their friends. Later, she enjoyed regular trips to Arizona to visit Julie, Colorado to visit Jill, and keeping the breakroom stocked with homemade treats for John and the crew at Martin Construction. Her grandchildren, Cayden and Cameron, were truly the light of her life. She treasured spending her summers in Colorado, floating the lazy river and cheering from the stands at baseball games—always with homemade sandwiches and her signature buns in hand. Peggy had a very special relationship with her sister Patty. She always looked forward to their times together, as they’d make each other laugh until they cried.
Her hobbies were many: playing bingo, reading, baking and cooking for her friends and loved ones, completing puzzles and crosswords, doing Sudoku, and even mowing the lawn while soaking up the sun. Peggy especially cherished her family’s annual Christmas trips with her favorite of all being South Padre Island, a peaceful place filled with sunshine and sand.
Peggy had an incredibly loving and generous spirit. Whether it was a meal cooked from the heart or a warm smile, she had a way of making people feel welcome and loved instantly. Peggy’s life was a gift to all who knew her. She will be remembered for her unwavering love, her giving heart, and the warmth she brought into every room. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved so dearly and the countless lives she touched.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, John J. Wanner; her children: Jill (Nathan) Snyder of Centennial, CO; Julie Wanner of Phoenix, AZ; and John C. Wanner (Heather Kostelecky) of Dickinson, ND. She is also survived by her precious grandchildren, Cayden and Cameron Snyder; her siblings: Christie (Deb) Berg of Logan, KS; Patty (Dave) Holen of Minot, ND; and Bonnie (Monte) Espe of Des Lacs, ND.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and her mother- and father-in-law.
Peggy was a devoted member of River of Life Church International. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Peggy can be made to River of Life Church International.
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or donations may be mailed to:
River of Life Church International
PO Box 1062
Dickinson, ND 58602
