The White's

Born 27 February 1927 at Columbia Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the second child and second son of Theodore Douglas Wangemann Sr. and Flora Esther Egide Wangemann. A daughter born subsequently as well.
First known residence address was at 2617 W. Scott Street, Milwaukee, a very small house with no bathroom and a partial dirt floor in the basement. My father had no known or steady occupation all during the 1930’s and the family suffered thru the depression by accepting county relief. Elementary school was emotionally painful, because all the children recognized the clothing and shoes issued to relief recipients and would make fun of my dress.
Moved to 1307 South 84 Street, West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee while in the middle of the 5th grade and was immediately singled out for the precise and correct language that I had been taught in the Milwaukee schools which apparently were superior to the efforts of the West Allis schools.
My father had now assumed the title of Real Estate Broker and operated from his home. Because of World War II and the shortages it caused in civilian life, my parents were able to maintain themselves economically. My mother was a better businessman than Father and built up a Greeting Card and Notions business at home which provided the foundation of income. My father suffered from a vision defect and was forced to give up his driver’s license in 1941. This handicap was also the reason for his inability to be gainfully employed on a regular basis.
As a youngster, I can remember sitting next to my Dad and being his “eyes” as he drove the 1929 Chevrolet. I would tell him the color of the stop lights, how much to brake, when and where to turn, and it never caused either he or I any concern.
I graduated from Nathan Hale High School in January 24, 1945, as eleventh highest in a class of 36 students and as the only Class President this group ever elected. As we drove up to school the night of my graduation, my father’s Aunt complained of being ill. My parents dropped me off and took Aunt Tina home where she died a few minutes later.
In High School, I was socially active, having been on the cross country team, tennis, and manager of the winningest football team in the history of that school.
I enlisted in the Navy in February 22, 1945 to avoid being drafted in the Army. Boot Camp was served at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Glenview Illinois and from there I was transferred to the destroyer U.S.S. Hico DD673 at San Francisco, California. While on our way to the South Pacific a few months later, the war with Japan was over and we were ordered back to San Diego, California, where our ship was de-commissioned. After seven more months of Duty at the Mare Island Naval Ammunition Depot in Vallejo, California, I was discharged in July 1946; a short military career.
My father demanded that I attend University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in Fall and forced the school to accept me as a student. (Their enrollment was overfull because of all the G.I.’s returning from the War.) In a very short time, it was obvious to me and the school that I wasn’t going to apply myself and left after a little more than one semester.
My work habits did not really develop at all until after my marriage to Myrtle Omon on 9 April 1949. After that time, my jobs were all manual labor, such as filling station work and parking lot attendant. We were financially solvent though and were happy as a family from the very beginning of its formation.
We bought our first home at 2021 South 73 Street in West Allis in 1955 and ultimately became the parents of five boys and three girls. During this time, I had found myself in a sales career and felt it was right and have enjoyed continued growth in income throughout this career.
As a young community leader I served as organizer and President of the West Allis Jaycees, Distinguished Service Award Recipient in 1957, Director of the West Allis YMCA, Director of West Allis Memorial Hospital and member of Governors’ Committee to Keep Wisconsin Beautiful. These social activities were usually connected with some form of social drinking which had begun to be more than just occasional.
In May of 1959, two Stake Missionaries were tracting on our street when I wasn’t home. My wife apparently encouraged them to see me. On the third try, they found me home and talked briefly and then asked to call again. As a result of their interest and my complete compliance, these discussions ended with my baptism as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 5 December 1959.
As a result of this change in my philosophy and the increased assistance from the Lord, my life improved substantially and my growing family took on increasing meaning and importance. My work prospered and my career caused our family to move to Atlanta, Georgia in March of 1969. While a member of the East Point Ward, Atlanta Stake, I was called to be a Bishop where I now serve.
My children have grown and developed beyond my fondest hopes and dreams and are the joy of my wife and I for the paths they choose to take and their faithfulness and love for their Heavenly Father.