Wagener, LaVerne, "L.H.," (1916-2015)

WAGENER, GALBRAITH

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/28/2015 at 14:20:53

LaVerne, "L.H.," Wagener
July 7, 1916 - February 19, 2015

LaVerne "L.H." Wagener, age 98, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Thursday, February 19, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

LaVerne Harold Wagener was born on July 7, 1916, in Nemaha, Iowa, to Ernest and Hattie Wagener. He grew up on a farm in the Sac County area during the great depression and learned the value of a good work ethic.

After graduating from Nemaha High School, “Wag,” a nickname given to him in grade school that stuck with him the rest of his life, attended Buena Vista College where he met his future wife, Dorothy I. Galbraith. They married on March 5, 1939, and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in 2014.

After graduating from Buena Vista College, Wag attended Northwestern University where he earned a master’s degree in accounting.

A person of many talents and interests, he taught in the Hudson, Iowa, school district and served as the school superintendent in Dinsdale, Iowa, while teaching home economics and mathematics as well as coaching the basketball team at the same time for $1,600 per year. Moreover, he owned and operated a Dodge/Plymouth auto dealership in Traer, Iowa, and an insurance agency in Storm Lake, Iowa, and he worked as a heavy construction contractor building asphalt and Portland cement streets and roads as well as resurfacing county gravel roads and building canals in North Dakota.

After they retired, Wag and Dorothy spent their winters in Brownsville, Texas, and their summers in Storm Lake, Iowa. Wag enjoyed watching the stock market when he wasn’t fixing or building something. He played golf and traveled in the United States or to a foreign country.

Wag went to be with his Lord on February 19, 2015. He was preceded in death by his brother and only sibling, Everett; and his wife, Dorothy.

He is survived by his sons, Renny (Sandy), of Ankeny, Iowa, and Rex (Cindy), of Storm Lake, Iowa; six grandchildren: Megan, Dylan, Travis, Chad, Kayla, and Colton; and six great grandchildren: Brandal, Daylan, Isabelle, Zachary, Elliott and Chelsea.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. until the beginning of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in care of the L.H. and Dorothy Wagener Scholarship Fund. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

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