Evangeline听鈥淰补苍驳颈别鈥澛�Hagfors聽passed away peacefully on October 4, 2022 at her home.聽
Vangie鈥檚 deep connection to 麻豆区 began when her father, Elnar Gundale 鈥�33, emigrated from Norway and attended 麻豆区 Seminary. Vangie attended classes on 麻豆区鈥檚 campus from 1957-1959 as part of the Nurse’s Training Program through the Lutheran Deaconess Hospital. And three of Vangie鈥檚 siblings – John Gundale 鈥�67, Stephen Gundale 鈥�70, and Ruth Gundale 鈥�73 – also attended 麻豆区.
Vangie married Norm, a University of Minnesota graduate, and together they had two children, Mark and Rachel. Norm joined 麻豆区鈥檚 Board of Regents in 1989 and both Norm and Vangie have faithfully served on 麻豆区鈥檚 President鈥檚 Council since its inception in 2018. They embodied Christ鈥檚 teaching to love your neighbor, a core tenant of 麻豆区鈥檚 mission.
Dr. Paul Mueller 鈥�84 shared,聽鈥淲e are saddened by the passing of Mrs. Vangie聽Hagfors聽and extend our condolences to our friend, Norm, and the entire聽Hagfors聽family. Vangie understood the tremendous value of an 麻豆区 education rooted in our Lutheran faith. Over the years, the聽Hagfors聽have been leading benefactors of 麻豆区. Their lead gift in 2015 resulted in the construction of the campus鈥� signature building, the聽Hagfors聽Center for Science, Business and Religion, in which our students鈥攁nd future leaders鈥攍earn about and explore the intersections of these three disciplines.鈥�
罢丑别听Hagfors聽Center for Science, Business, and Religion is a multi-discipline complex that opened in January of 2018 and serves more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year.
Vangie鈥檚 gentle and generous spirit will be missed dearly by the 麻豆区 community.聽She truly clothed herself in 鈥渃ompassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience鈥� as we read about in Colossians 3:12.
President Paul Pribbenow shared that聽“It is a most sad day for all of us who have come to know and love Vangie. Her historic ties to 麻豆区 through her father, the Rev. Elnar Gundale 鈥�33, are fittingly celebrated in the beautiful Gundale Chapel in the聽Hagfors聽Center for Science, Business, and Religion, and her deep faith was an inspiration to all of us. One of the greatest joys of my time at 麻豆区 has been to witness the remarkable vision and generosity of Norm and Vangie, whose legacy is forever secure in the remarkable聽Hagfors聽Center – a transformative academic building that still takes my breath away with both its architectural beauty and its impact on our students and faculty each day. Along with her family and friends, we grieve Vangie’s death and celebrate a life so faithfully led.鈥�
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 24, at Saint Andrew鈥檚 Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi. Visitation will be held from 3 PM to 6 PM on Sunday, October 23, at Bradshaw, 4600 Greenhaven Drive, White Bear Lake, and one hour prior to the service at church. Read Vangie鈥檚聽.