Leo G. Wagner 1918-2007

WAGNER, NAUMAN, STANGLE, SULLIVAN, KING, HILLARY, JANSEN, ECHTER, BURGGRAF, SCHROEDER, FEURST, SCHALLAN

Posted By: Judi Nicks (email)
Date: 7/30/2007 at 00:26:09

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque,Iowa
Sunday, July 29, 2007

Leo G. Wagner

The long awaited gift of eternal life was bestowed upon Leo G. Wagner, 89, of 21630 Kings Road, Friday, July 27, 2007. Per his wishes, the family had heroically ministered to him to keep him home as long as possible. On Friday morning, Leo was united with God and his beloved wife Bea, who was called home ahead of him.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Sherrill, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where a parish scripture wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

He was born on Feb. 10, 1918, in Dubuque County, son of Bernard and Clara (Nauman) Wagner. On May 20, 1941, he married Bea Stangle at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Leo and Bea raised eight children, including three sets of twins. They enjoyed 59 wonderful years together until her death on Aug. 20, 2000.

He grew up in rural Dubuque County and spent his youth working on the family farm. During the construction of Lock and Dam 11, he worked for the Army Corp of Engineers clearing the river low lands of trees which is now part of the Mississippi River north of the dam. He started work at the General Die Battery Company in 1939 and eight years later, he went to work for the Dubuque Packing Company. After his retirement in 1978, Leo and Bea began traveling extensively, visiting 48 of the 50 United States as well as Germany, Italy and Yugoslavia.

He had a very strong faith and was an active member of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish in Sherrill.

Gardening was one of Leo's passions, and he enjoyed going to the farmer's market.

Surviving are three sons, Mark (Peggy) Wagner, of McFarland, Wis., Luke Wagner, of Dubuque, and John (Cheryl) Wagner, of Davenport; four daughters, Barbara Sullivan, of Vista, Calif., MaDonna (Jim) King, of Minneapolis, and Lois (Terry) Hillary and Jody (Dennis) Jansen, both of Dubuque; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Ray (Florence) Wagner, of Tawas City Mich.; sisters, Colletta (Jim) Echter, of Oceanside, Calif., Delores Burggraf, of Bloomington, Wis., and Virginia Schroeder, of Dubuque; and a sister-in-law, Esther Wagner, of Fennimore, Wis.

He also was preceded in death by an infant son, Daniel; three brothers, Sylvester, Al, and Pete Wagner; and two sisters, Evelyn Fuerst and Loretta Schallan.

The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to Dr. Bruce Abele for his patience, care and concern and to the staff at Sunnycrest Rehabilitation unit who's care enabled Leo to stay in his own home.

A Leo G. Wagner Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

info@egelhofsiegertcasper.com.