Kathleen M Wacker's Obituary
Kathleen May (Tangjerd) Wacker, 82, of Tampa (formerly Clearwater) passed away on March 3, 2020. Kathleen was born in Bagley, MN, on April 1, 1937 to Maurice and Zella Tangjerd. She was the oldest of seven children raised on a picturesque farm outside of Bagley. Some of her early elementary years were spent in a one-room schoolhouse in Shevlin, MN. She took piano lessons and played for the school chorus in high school. Kathleen graduated from Bagley High School in 1954 as Valedictorian of her class and earned a Bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1958 from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.
After graduation, Kathleen worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Minneapolis where she met her husband John in the church choir. Kathleen and John started a family and in 1971 moved to Clearwater, Florida. Once her children were old enough, she returned to nursing at Morton Plant Hospital. Church was always an important part of her life. She sang in the choir, played the piano for children’s Sunday school classes, attended the women’s circle group meetings and was part of the handbell choir at her beloved church, Grace Lutheran of Clearwater.
Kathleen is survived by, her daughter, Karen (Wacker) Hampton and son-in-law, Henry, her son, Chris Wacker and daughter-in-law, Suzanne, grandsons, Sean and Colin, her son, Andrew Wacker and daughter-in law, Wendy, grandsons, Aaron and Alex. Kathleen is also survived by her brother-in-law, Marvin Edevold, her sister, Marie Dimmock and brother-in-law, Dick, her sister, Lois Bishop and brother-in-law, Pat, her sister, Irene Lindgren and brother-in-law, Bruce, her brother Lowell Tangjerd and sister-in-law, Christie and her sister, Grace Tangjerd Schmitt and brother-in-law, Tiger Schmitt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Wacker, her parents, and her sister, Ruth Edevold.
Kathleen will be missed by all that knew her. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Kathleen Wacker’s name can be made to LifePath Hospice: 12470 Telecom Drive Tampa, FL 33637 or at www.chaptershealth.org
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