Doris Joan Gangelhoff

Doris Joan Gangelhoff, 88, residing in Chandler, Arizona passed away on May 14, 2025. Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Ronald Jacob Gangelhoff, who passed away in January 1994. Doris has five surviving children, Gary Ronald, Gregory David, Todd Erwin, Ronda Jean, and Matthew Jacob Gangelhoff. She is also survived by 11 amazing grandchildren,10 beautiful great grandchildren and 3 great grandbabies on the way. A true blessing.

Doris was born in Davenport, Iowa on February 3, 1937 to parents Eugene and Betty Swails. Doris was the second oldest of four children. She is survived by her sister Shirley Poshard and preceded in death by her younger sister Janet Cline and younger brother David Swails.

Doris graduated from Manuel High School in Peoria, IL and began working at Caterpillar Corporation as an envelope stuffer. With resolve and a strong personal belief that she could do better, she was promoted to the engineering department where she transcribed detailed notes and graphs for the engineers. While working at Caterpillar, she met her husband Ron who was playing minor league baseball for the company. They were married in September of 1957 and began their long journey together in a small cute home on Melbourne Street.

After having her first two children, they moved to Cass Lake, Minnesota to work in the family resort business. While scrimping and saving, she and her husband Ron decided to take a chance on building a better life for their young family, so Ron began traveling and selling knives from the trunk of his car while the summer resort was closed for the winter. While her husband was on the road Doris maintained their small one room cabin in the resort, working tirelessly to keep her then four children warm, clean and fed. She was often snowed in at the resort and had to wait for help so she could take her family into the small town to grocery shop and to do her family's laundry at the local laundromat. Through all the challenges, and the weekly separation from her husband who would call her nightly on a pay phone in the small office of the resort, she stayed positive and strong. She often said the winter of 1966 almost did her in. The following year they were able to purchase their first home in Bemidji, Minnesota on Birch Lane where they welcomed their last child.

As they worked hard together their efforts allowed them to build a larger home on Birchmont Ave, this home was just around the corner from their Lutheran Church and was her dream home. Now with five children and a strong faith in God and many sacrifices, Doris raised her young family, supported her hard-working husband, and served the Lord and her church volunteering and being a part of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Trinity Lutheran Church.

As she and her husband built their faith, their family, and their business they moved to Mound, Minnesota and became members of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. As they continued working together in commitment to the Lord they were blessed with the opportunity to purchase the knife company, they worked so hard in, known as Chicago Cutlery Knives.

As her family grew and moved on Doris and Ron decided to move to Clearwater Florida to be closer to Ron’s family and to enjoy the warmer weather. They built a lovely home on St. Andrews Street and were members of First Lutheran Church. They stayed connected to Minnesota and their roots by maintaining a lakeside home on Birchmont Ave and they became official snow birds.

In the late 80’s and early 90’s as Ron was battling cancer, they decided it was time to give back to their church and their community by pledging money to Concordia Saint Paul University to build a sports center. This gift allowed many young Christen adults to pursue their passion in sports and education and help them to start their life’s journey. She was very proud of this gift and what it meant to so many young lives. The sports center was built on the campus of Concordia St. Paul University and is known as the Gangelhoff Center. Her husband passed before the completion but Doris represented the family and spoke at the opening dedication. A very proud moment and because of this center she received letters and cards thanking her and her husband for their generous gift.

Doris showed throughout her life that she was a constant support to her husband and her children, she took great pride in her homes, they were her sanctuary. Her joys in life were playing tennis, reading, decorating her home for every season her beautiful yards and her daily crossword puzzles. Her favorite season was the fall in northern Minnesota. Although she never claimed to be a great cook her children would tell her different. She had a love for sweets so if you ever wanted to make her day bring her a treat! She prided herself in being a fierce cribbage player and loved to play Mexican Train Dominos with family and friends. She lived her life walking hand in hand with her Lord and Savior and gave faithfully to her church. Doris was a beacon of strength and generosity and she gave tirelessly to those in need and to her family.

After her husband passed, she moved her summer home to Maple Grove, Minnesota so she could be closer to her sons and her winter home to Chandler, Arizona where she could be closer to her daughter. Her final church home was St. Johns Lutheran Church in Corcoran Minnesota and she attended service at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Chandler, Arizona.

Walk gracefully with the Lord Mom, you are now in His hands. WE LOVE YOU FOREVER!