(and also in the August 2 and 3, 2025 Omaha World Herald) Stangl, Scott M., age 59 of Fort Calhoun, NE.

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Scott Stangl, age 59 of Fort Calhoun, went home to be with his Savior on July 28th, 2025 due to heart complications. He was known by his those who loved him as a man of commitment and one who embraced life with optimism.

Scott was born in Carroll, Iowa on January 12th, 1966 to Jack and Margaret Stangl.

He married his high school sweetheart Theresa and together, they spent their lives pouring into their family and community. They welcomed twelve children, Ben (Lesley), Ellie, Zach (Alexis), Lydia Ulmer (Seth), Josiah (Becca), Susanna Kopsa (James), Julia Stachura (Ben), Justus (Emily), Michael (Morgan), Naomi, Chloe, and Magdalene. His family was his life. They all knew him as the one to go to for wisdom and advice.

Scott found joy in sharing family music, studying scripture, working construction with his children, and making people feel valued. Most importantly, he cherished his relationship with Jesus and purposed to share the heart of God with all those he knew.

Scott was preceded in passing by his parents, Jack and Margaret Stangl (Dedham, IA) along with his parents-in-law Merle and Margaret Wiedemeier (Carroll, IA).

Left to cherish his memory are his siblings, Mark, Jeff (Jane), Cindy Hummel (Tom), Julie Harrill (Scott), and Todd. His beloved wife, children, and thirty-two grandchildren will miss him.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 10:00 am Monday, August 4, 2025, at Reach Church, 13121 Co. Rd. 16, Blair, NE.

INTERMENT: Kennard Cemetery.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIALS SUGGESTED TO: Assure Women's Center

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home in service to the family.

#2 Funeral leaflet

Scott Michael Stangl

January 12, 1966 to July 28, 2025

Scott Michael Stangl was born January 12th, 1966 to Jack and Marge Stangl in Carroll, Iowa. Being one of six children, Scott spoke of his childhood with fondness. His family was devoted to each other and he often said that his mother and father were his close friends. Scott grew up doing things like kids did in the 70’s, enjoying bike rides, catching butterflies and walking to school one mile each way. In 1974, Scott’s family moved from the city of Carroll to Dedham, a town of about 300. Just last week when driving through Dedham, Scott told his daughters of how he played daily at the town park with maybe thirty neighborhood kids and skateboarded the hills until the town’s dinner bell rang. In high school, Scott became everyone’s friend where he attended at Kuemper Catholic High School and was voted wittiest of his class. He honed his athletic skills in most of the sports the school had to offer.

Scott always looked at life through a different lens than many. His cup was at least half full, if not always full. His optimism drew many to him and caught the eye of one in particular during his senior year.

Theresa Wiedemeier was to become his one and only sweetie the summer of 1984. They dated through Scott’s two years at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, where he graduated in 1986 with an associate’s degree in computer science. Shortly afterwards, he began his career in programming.

August 7th of 1987, Scott and Theresa were married at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa. They lived in Omaha where their first child, Benjamin, was born. The summer of 1989, Scott started reading Scripture in search of truth. He often spoke of the desire to know God for himself instead of relying on a religion. If you knew Scott, you most likely would have heard of the life changing story of how he came to realize not only the weight of his sin, but the kindness of God’s heart in the gospel. From that moment forward, he believed in the work of the cross, claimed the victory found in God’s mercy, and purposed to live a life that would represent the heart of God to all those he knew.

This commitment was the reason he became the man his family knew him to be: honorable, dedicated and faithful to study the Scriptures. He was intentional in meeting the needs of whomever the Lord put before him with many asking for his advice through discipleship.

Scott relocated with his family in 1997 to an acreage near Fort Calhoun, NE where he lived until his passing. By the grace and wisdom of His Lord and Savior, Scott poured himself into the community and each of his twelve children with the remaining years of his life. He was steadfast, loyal and dedicated to encouraging his family to personally know the Lord Jesus Christ. His talent for bringing humor into everyday life made him a joy to be around. He was a handyman, teaching skills to his kids and diligent in his work. Scott always cared for the hearts of his children and led them daily in family devotions. This was the source of wisdom they found in him.

Scott leaves behind the legacy of a faithful 38 year marriage to Theresa, and his twelve children Benjamin and Lesley (Kezia, Amaryllis, Simeon Scott, Malakhi, Eliora, Jeriah, Genesis, Arcturus), Ellie, Zach and Alexis (Everleigh, Esekiel, Erina, Eleanor), Lydia and Seth Ulmer (Olive, Mayim, Jeremiah Scott, Amos, Maria), Josiah and Becca (Elton, Ezra, Thomas), Susanna and James Kopsa (Aniela, Margaret, James Arthur, Titus Scott), Julia and Ben Stachura (Evelyn, Truly), Justus and Emily (Brooks), Michael and Morgan, and they joys of his heart, Naomi, Chloe and Magdalene. He was a dear friend to each one, intentionally making time for them. His life was characterized by deep faith in the promises of God. His children are committed to sharing the heart for the Lord that “Grandpa” had with his thirty-two grandchildren.

Scott was preceded in passing by his parents, Jack and Margaret Stangl and his in-laws, Merle and Margaret Wiedemeier.

He will be dearly missed by all, including his siblings Mark, Jeff and Jane, Cindy and Tom Hummel, Julie and Scott Harrill, and Todd. We are overwhelmed with gratefulness for the love and care shown to our family during this time. Thank you! We have been greatly encouraged.
In Loving Memory of Scott Michael Stengl

January 12, 1966 Carroll, Iowa ~ July 28, 2025 Omaha, Nebraska

Celebration of Life 10am Monday, August 4, 2025 Reach Church.
Officiants: Scott’s Family
Order of Service:
Video, Memories of Scott Stangle. Music: “You Two” with Scott and daughters Chloe and Magdalene. Prayer and Eulogy, by Zach Stangl. Congregational Hymn, “To God Be The Glory” with Michael and Ellie. Words of Encouragement by Benjamin Stangl. The Stangl Family Hymn. Stangl Family Sharing. Time of Sharing for Friends and Family. Congregational Hymn, “Near to the Heart of God”, Michael Stangl. Prayer, by Josiah Stangl. Music: “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”, with Scott and his children

Pallbearers: Benjamin Stangl, Zach Stangl, Josiah Stangl, Justus Stangl, Michael Stangl, Simeon Scott Stangl

Honorary Pallbearers: Jeff Stangl, Todd Stangl, Mark Stangl

Private Interment; Kennard Cemetery, 6701 Co. Rd., 25, Kennard, NE.

Luncheon: Reach Church, Immediately Following Celebration

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please send memorial gifts to Assure Women’s Center.

#3 (Included in Funeral leaflet)

“My Journey to an Intimate Relationship with Christ”—Scott Stangl I was born into a Roman Catholic family at a very young age 😊. In my youth, I felt that I was sensitive to the idea of God. I didn’t doubt His existence, and lived my life with some type of moral compass. Obviously, the church helped define the do’s and don’ts, the rights and wrongs. Around sixth grade, I recall telling my dad that I was strongly considering becoming a priest. I was surprised that he was so adamant about me not going down that path. His response confused me at that time. I thought it would be viewed as a noble idea, but I found out Dad wasn’t really all that “into” the church. As I grew older and moved into high school, peer pressure pushed the limits on my moral compass. However, I did not totally abandon my sensitivity towards God. I sincerely wrestled with my conscience as I broke out of the “good boy” boundaries. Eventually, I succumbed to the dainties that the world had to offer and pushed the guilty feelings away quite effectively. Funny thing is that I still tried to maintain the “good boy” appearance. Compared to my peers, I wasn’t as bad as them, so I found a place in life that was acceptable to me. I was alright.

I reached a point where I had a pretty girlfriend, was popular at school, in athletics, liked by my teachers, liked by my parents, and had good grades. Life was going great. God was distant, and I really didn’t think of Him that much. I kept Him out there someplace. I kept the Church away, too. Yes, I attended Mass each week and went through some motions to keep up the image. My focus in life consisted of sports and girls. No real depth. Full of selfishness.

So how did the Lord get ahold of me? Well, I was introduced to the gospel because of Theresa. She was telling me about some of her family finding a different path to God, and she was being persuaded to check it out. I really enjoyed Theresa, and I wasn’t compelled to drop out of the relationship because of the God topic. So, I ended up checking it out as well.

I found myself sitting beside Theresa in a Baptist church, listening to Pastor Chuck laying out the gospel using Bible references. Up to this point in my life, I had not heard the true gospel. As I listened, I found myself agreeing. I understood the message, and it rang within me as true. From that point, I never doubted the gospel. I told it to others. I defended it with friends and classmates. It made so much sense. I felt so blessed to know the gospel.

Yes, God had revealed something special to me. But He still had to reveal more to me. Sitting in the pew that day, I was also challenged to read the Bible for myself. I had never done that before, and I thought it would be good idea to confirm what I heard. The Bible was exciting to dig into. However, my parents grew concerned as I took that dusty family Bible off the shelf and started reading. I read the Bible for the next three-plus years. I learned so much about God. But what I found out is that God also wanted me to learn about myself. During these three years, Theresa and I went round and round with how the Catholic Church does have some semblance of the gospel truth and how the Christian churches had other problems. It was a tension in our relationship, even to the point of breaking up for a few days. But we somehow found some agreement—or maybe some forced concessions because we were way too invested in our relationship. We ended up alternating between the Catholic Church one week and the Christian Church the next week. We eventually got married and had our first child. The pressures of life were hitting home.

Yet, I was reading the Bible and would occasionally even share the gospel. But I could also be wicked. It really depended on who I was around. If it was with churchy people, I would be churchy. If it was around worldly people, I would be worldly. Looking back, it was a confusing time. Others probably wondered what was going on with me as well.

Through it all, God was bringing me to a decision point in my life. Up until then, I believed in the message of the gospel. I knew it was true. But what I needed to do was believe in the person of the gospel. I had missed it. I was confident in telling people I was a Christian. I knew the truth. However, it isn’t about knowing the right information—it’s about knowing the right person.

What happened to allow me to truly believe? Reading the Bible was the avenue for God to speak to me. I was in the book of Matthew, and God told me two things about myself. Audibly? No. But just as real.

The first was in Matthew 10:34-37 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foe shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

As time went by, my relationship with my parents became more distant because I was into religion a little too much. They just observed this. We never discussed it. If they knew I was not going to the Catholic Church, it would devastate them. I didn’t want to create unnecessary friction, so I stayed silent. But after reading this Scripture, God said, “Scott, you are not worthy of me.” In Luke, it says I am not His disciple.

I was a Christian—or so I thought. He clearly let me know that I was not. I loved my parents more than Him. I valued that relationship more than my relationship with God. Now what was I to do? I wanted both relationships, but I knew the right answer. I wanted the Lord. I was compelled to go to them and tell them. I showed up to their home unexpectedly. That was my one opportunity. I did a poor job. If I could do it over, I would. But I did it—for the Lord.

The second thing that clicked with me was in Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” I viewed Christianity like a religion with rules to follow. I wanted to be a good Christian. Yet, it just was boring. Then I read this verse, and the Lord said, “Scott, I don’t want you to be like them. I want you to be like Me.” My perspective changed in a moment. I never had a more direct purpose for my life.

The Lord showed me these two things about myself. Only after He revealed this was I able to truly believe. I was sitting at the kitchen table pondering which church to attend the next morning—Catholic or Christian. I was not at rest within. I realized that I had been “playing church” for the last few years. It needed to stop. I surrendered my life and believed in Him. Then it happened. And I knew it.

~~~from obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Washington County, Nebraska Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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