Florian Bangert

PRINCETON — Florian L. Bangert passed away Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, at Liberty Village in Princeton.

Florian was born July 5, 1932, in Tonica, LaSalle County, the son of Anton F. Bangert and Bretice A. (Barber) Bangert. He married Bonnie Jackson June 12, 1955, at the Dover Congregational Church in Dover.

He graduated from Tonica High School in Tonica in 1950 and from the University of Illinois in 1958 with a degree in agriculture. He was the owner of Bangert Insurance Agency, as well as the secretary of the Berlin Mutual Insurance Agency from 1968 to 2000. Florian was also on the Rockford Mutual Insurance Board of Directors, serving as secretary for 30 years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1955.

Florian was a member of BPOE Elks and Northern Illinois Shriners Club. He was also the past president of the Shriners and served as secretary for 25 years. He was a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Hampshire Colony Congregational Church in Princeton, a volunteer for the Red Cross for 25 years and a member of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Princeton Optimist Club, where he was a past president. He was a Master Gardener and a member of the Down Town Princeton Investment Club. He was the driver for Mobile Meals and a regular blood donor.

He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, traveling and reading, volunteering and time with his loving family. He was a diehard Cubs fan and very proud to witness them winning the World Series 2016. He had his own personal fire department, owning a 1915 Peter Pirsch Ladder Fire Truck, and he enjoyed driving in parades for the over 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie J. Jackson Bangert; two children, David (Jane) Bangert of Greenfield Center, N.Y., and Deanna Majeski of Wildwood, Mo.; six grandchildren, Jacqueline Bangert of New York, Andrew Bangert of Connecticut, Richard Bangert of New York, Megan Majeski of Missouri, Mark Majeski of Missouri and Kevin Majeski of Missouri; one sister, Rosan (Jerry) Gruetzemacher; and two brothers, John (Cathy) Bangert and Ron (Phyllis) Bangert.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Bretice Bangert; one brother, Duane Bangert; and one sister, Marilyn Carlson.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church in Princeton with the Rev. David Barnes officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Princeton.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be directed to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or Hampshire Colony Congregational Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.norbergfh.com.