Joseph Jangula

Joseph (Joe) Jangula, 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Eventide Memory Care Unit in Jamestown, ND. He was born the second of 13 children on February 3, 1931, to Jacob J. Jr. and Eva (Wald) Jangula on the family farm near Zeeland, ND.

In 1937, the family moved to a farm seven miles west of Edgeley, ND. Joe took great pride in living off the land during these trying years. He never tired of recounting numerous stories of the long, difficult days spent in the hot, dry fields working alongside his brothers, especially John, and his father. Harsh winters meant traveling by horseback to and from country school. He held a lifelong appreciation for the intelligence of his favorite horse, Prince. Joe later honored his parents’ memory with a song written about their move east in search of a better way of life: “The Dream That Mama & Papa Had.”

Joe entered the military with his brother John in January, 1951. He served until the fall of 1952. He and John would later purchase the family farm from their parents, and together they farmed for several years.

He married Marion Ruth Taszarek on May 28, 1956. They were blessed with seven children. Although the union ended, the sacrifices made and bonds created will live on in the hearts of their children for generations to come.

In 1979, Joe sold the farm to his oldest son, Jerome, and began pursuing his dream of making music. This unshakable love began when he was a teen after purchasing his first guitar in 1948 from a catalog. Although he received only a few formal lessons, Joe taught himself most of the playing skills he possessed well into his elderly years.

Together with his long-time partner, Georgene Robinson, he traveled near and as far south as Texas and Arizona entertaining audiences. It gave them true joy to cover their huge repertoire of old classic country hits. Joe’s zeal for manipulating numbers and mastering his “number tricks,” as he referred to them, gave him countless hours of self-entertainment. (Oh, to imagine the final count of people he convinced to pull out a calculator, take the time, and play along!) Joe also researched trivia and prided himself on his athletic ability to do one-armed pushups.

Joe always had an innovative heart. He appreciated advancing technology, especially in agriculture. In the 1970s, he was one of the first farmers in the area to raise sunflowers. He operated Steiger tractors. He never lost his connection to the land. A favorite pastime was always driving out to “the boys’ farms” and riding in various equipment to ensure things were up to par. Even in these final years, Joe thrived when he was given rides to the countryside to check on the crops’ growth and progress. It was in his blood, his true passion.

Joe is survived by his seven children; Jerome, Detroit Lakes, MN.; Frank (Nancy) Jud, ND; Mary Jo (Mike) Mutchler, Weatherford, TX; Barbara (Doug) Barnick, Jud, ND; Kevin (Tammy) Edgeley, ND; David (Wellah) Edgeley, ND; Jeff (Delia) Logan, IA; numerous beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his brothers John, Julius, Raymond, Jerry, and Conrad; his sisters, Elenora Lund, Anna Marie Cheney, Alice Kuefler, Helen Weighter, and Rosemary Weigel and their surviving spouses. Joe is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and Kelly (Lisa) and Randy (Peggy) Kowalski.

He is preceded in death by many loved ones including his first wife, Marion, a stillborn son, his parents, his brothers Jim and two infants, sister Betty, granddaughter Katie Mutchler, son-in-law Kim Lagodinski, and special companion Georgene Robinson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, February, 28, 2026, at Transfiguration Catholic Church, Edgeley, ND with Father Jake Miller officiating. Visitation will precede the Mass beginning at 9:30 AM with a Rosary at 10:05 AM.

Lunch in the church hall will follow with interment following in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Edgeley, ND.