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Schlangen was riding in the passenger seat of a 1994 Ford Taurus station wagon driven by his wife of 29 years, Barb, 49. They were northbound on 293rd Avenue in Zion Township.

At the intersection with 230th Street, their car collided with a 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Brady Wuertz, 16, of Belgrade. Wuertz's car struck the passenger door of the Schlangens' car.

According to the Stearns County Sheriff's Department - who responded to the accident, along with the Paynesville Fire and Rescue, Paynesville Area Ambulance, Paynesville Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and LifeLink Helicopter Service - there is only a single stop sign at the intersection, for southbound traffic on 293rd Avenue. Though the accident is still under investigation, standing corn may have limited visibility at the intersection, according to the sheriff's department.

All three - both Schlangens and Wuertz - were taken to the Paynesville Area Hospital by ambulance. Schlangen was pronounced dead at the hospital. Wuertz was treated and released.

Schlangen was born in Richmond and grew up on a farm near Roscoe, one of 13 kids in the family. He worked for Paynesville Culligan for 26 years. He liked to bowl, hunt, fish, play cards, garden, farm, and to spend time with his family and friends. He and Barb have six children: Kenneth, Dean, Eric, Beth, Justin, Cory, and Robert (deceased as infant).

He belonged to the St. Agnes Parish in Roscoe, to the St. Joseph Society, to the Knights of Columbus, to the Catholic Aid Association, and to the Roscoe Sportsman's Club.

His funeral was held on Tuesday with internment in the St. Agnes Parish Cemetary.

A full obituary can be found here.