Norma Jean (Wagner) Stangle, 87, of Lawrence, Kansas and formerly of Russell, Gorham and Ellsworth, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2015 at  Brandon Woods in Lawrence.

Norma was born August 14, 1927 in Eureka, Kansas, the daughter of E.M. “Bake” and Hulda (Dauber) Wagner.  She grew up in Ellsworth, Kansas, graduating from Ellsworth High School as Salutatorian of her class in 1945.  She earned a 3 year degree in 1948 from Susan B. Allen School of Nursing in El Dorado, Kansas.  She then began her life’s work as a Registered Nurse, including working at Russell Regional Hospital.  She went back to college while raising a family, and completed her BSN in 1971.  She was a devoted wife and mother, excellent cook, Girl Scout Leader, exceptional event organizer and always seeing to the needs of others.

Norma was united in marriage to Cecil L. Stangle on June 11, 1951 in Ellsworth.  This union was blessed with two children; Garrick and Allyn.  Cecil preceded her in death on January 3, 2000.

Surviving family include her son, Garrick Stangle (Louellyn) of Olathe, Kansas; daughter, Allyn (aka. Margaret) Elliott (Bruce) of Lawrence, Kansas; grandson, Andrei Elliott of Lawrence, Kansas; sister, Mary Specht of Ft. Collins, Colorado; brothers, Ron Wagner of Independence, Kansas and Ed Wagner (Joyce) of Ft. Collins, Colorado; brother-in-law, Everett Stangle (Gloria) of St. George, Utah; sister-in-laws, Luella Bales of Snyder, Texas and Joanne Stangle of Newton, Kansas; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband, two brothers, Jerome Wagner and Melvin Wagner and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Celebration of Norma’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, March 16, 2015 at Trinity United Methodist Church of Russell.  Burial of ashes will be held at a later date in Ebenezer Cemetery in Burns, Kansas.  Visitation will be Sunday, March 15, 2015 from noon to 6 PM at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with the family present to greet friends from 4 PM to 6 PM.  Memorials have been established with the Russell Girl Scouts or Ebenezer United Methodist Church.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.