L. Edwin Wang

MISSOULA - L. Edwin Wang, 89, passed away Wednesday, January. 28, 2009, at his home of natural causes.





Ed was born in Medford, Ore., to Laura Madeline Wang and Lorang Edwin Wang.





Ed and his baby brother Louis were raised by their mother during the Depression. Ed’s mom supported her kids by operating the telephone switchboard for the community. Ed would fill in for his mom at the switchboard when she had to run errands or go to the store.





Ed graduated from high school in Beatrice, Neb. He attended college classes at the University of California, Oakland Junior College and the University of Minnesota.





Ed met the love of his life, Astrid Wikander, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oakland, Calif., and married her in September 1942. Ed and Astrid were married for 66 years. Ed was devoted to his wife and family. He was especially fond of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ed’s great grand-daughter Madeline recently wrote a tribute to Ed. It began, “One very important person in my life is my great grandfather, Ed. When you look at him, the reaction you get is that he is a very happy, smiley, nice guy. This is 100 percent true.”





Before beginning his work for the Lutheran Church in Minnesota, Ed worked as a Manager for the Standard Insurance Co. in Oakland.





He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Midland Lutheran College in 1970. He served on the board of directors for the Mutual of America Insurance Co. from 1979 to 1992. Ed took a leave of absence with his work with the Board of Pensions in 1967 to take over as the acting insurance commissioner for the state of Minnesota. He took that position as a favor for his friend, the governor of Minnesota, Harold LeVander.





Ed was the president of the Board of Pensions for 31 years, first for the Augustana Lutheran Church, then the Lutheran Church in America. He considered it his mission in life to provide pension and health insurance support for Lutheran pastors and church employees. Pastors could tend to the spiritual needs of their congregations because they knew their health care and pension needs were in good hands. Under Ed’s leadership the assets of the Board had grown exponentially by the time he retired in 1987. He served the Lutheran church and its employees with all his heart. “Well done good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23





Ed loved history and had special interests in Egyptian history and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Ed was a member of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and the president of that organization in 1985-1986.





Ed loved to fish and loved to think and dream about fishing. He loved to eat fish and even loved to shop for gadgets to make him a better fisherman.





He was an active member of Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina, Minn., for 50 years, and a part-time member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, Ariz., for 20 years.





Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Madeline and Lorang Wang; his brother and sister-in-law, Louis Wang and Maxine Wang; and brothers-in-law, Robert and Russell Wikander.





He is survived by his wife Astrid Wang, Missoula; son David Wang (MunCha), Kapolei, Hawaii; daughters Linnea Wang and Judith Wang (Carl Ibsen), Missoula; grandchildren Kristine Kanne (Mike), Minneapolis, Georgia and Stephen Wang, Kapolei Hawaii, Arien Johnson, Stevensville, Bjor and Johann Johnson, Missoula, Captain Leif Ibsen (Mary), Youngsan, Korea, Captain Trevor Ibsen (Genna), Helena, Teunny McCoy, Bozeman and Allison Greene, Stevensville; and great-grandchildren, Madeline, Holland, Bryce, Gabriel, Gracey, Tucker and Aria.





A service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Atonement Lutheran Church in Missoula with a family reception to follow at Ed and Astrid’s home. A service in Minneapolis will be set at a date and time to be announced later. Contact Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina, Minn. for further information on a service in Minnesota.





In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials in Ed’s name be made to Partners Hospice or the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.






Read L. Edwin Wang's Obituary and Guestbook.