May 10, 2016

Erries VanWagner

Erries Jerome VanWagner went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan. 30, 2016, just two days after his 104th birthday, in Claresholm, Alberta Canada.
Jerome was born Jan. 28, 1912, to Benjamin and Emma VanWagner at their homestead south of Arnegard, N.D.
Jerome attended school with his two sisters and three brothers in Arnegard. He remained in North Dakota until the age of 24.
He was united in marriage to Clara Alma Richardson on Nov. 22, 1937.
After leaving North Dakota, he worked in a rock quarry in Montana and eventually moved to Washington  about 1940.
They welcomed their son, Alan in 1944, and he was the joy of their life.
Jerome worked as a welder in the shipyards during World War II and returned to North Dakota when the war was over. He then opened “Van’s Welding Shop” in Watford City. Around 1960, he was asked to do welding on oil rigs and did so for a few years and then moved on to do carpentry with his son Alan.
In 1968, he and his wife Clara moved to Calgary, Alberta and he took up welding again for the oil companies. He retired in 1991, and they moved to Granum, Alberta where he remained busy for years to come.  
Jerome always put God first, and his family a very close second. He was always there for family and friends and would do whatever he could and then some. He had a strong faith that he was not afraid to share and was known to have been heard singing hymns in his welding shop.  
He is survived by his son, Alan; granddaughters, Sherry and Lana; and seven great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Clara of 63 years; grandson, Glen; and daughter-in-law, Pat; sisters, Luverne and Vivian; and brothers, Layton, Clayo, and Marvin.  
There will be a Memorial Service to remember his life on May 28, 2016, at the Assembly of God Church in Watford City at 11 a.m.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER