Robert "Bob" Wagner 1920-2008

WAGNER, THIELEN, KOCH, HARTIG, BRUS, VATH

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 7/9/2008 at 14:42:24

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Saturday, July 5, 2008

Robert "Bob" Wagner

Robert "Bob" Wagner, 88, of Dubuque, died Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at home with his family by his side.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 7, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church (U.S. 52, south of Dubuque), St. Catherine's, Iowa. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque American Legion Post 6. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 6, at Siegert-Casper Colonial Funeral Home, 390 N. Grandview Ave., where a vigil service will be at 7 p.m.

He was born on Jan. 19, 1920, in Dubuque, son of Rudolph and Grace (Thielen) Wagner. He married Anita Koch on April 10, 1944, in Melbourne, Fla.

He attended Nativity Elementary School, graduated from Loras Academy, and then attended Loras College until joining the Navy.

Bob owned and operated Wagner TV and Radio and was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church.

Lieutenant Commander Robert Wagner was a Navy pilot who served his country proudly in World War II, flying PBM seaplanes. His passion for flying continued throughout the course of his life.

Bob had such a passion for life and truly enjoyed nature and the outdoors. He spent many hours skiing, and hiking and biking the trails well into his 80's. He was an avid amateur radio enthusiast and pilot. Bob was known for having such an incredible spirit, and brought smiles to anyone he came in contact with.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Anita; six children, Guy (Kathy), of Loveland, Colo. and their children, Christopher and Joy, Mark (Marybeth), of Dubuque, and their children, Tina, Deanna and Katie, Robert (Cindi), of Dubuque, and their children, Aimee, Ashley and Ben, John (Sara), of Minnetonka, Minn., Beth (Bob) Hartig, of Dubuque, and their children, Adam, Sara and Nick, and Paul, of Solon, Iowa; siblings, John (Agnes), of Dubuque, Ruth (Don) Brus, of McGregor, Iowa, and LaVonne Vath, of Des Moines; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, William Vath.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Friends of Dubuque County Conservation Board for the Heritage Trail Fund and to the Tri-State Dialysis Center of Dubuque.

Online condolences may be left for the family at egelhof

siegertcasper.com.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank Ashley Wagner, granddaughter of Robert, who provided support, attention and care throughout, Dr. John Whalen, and all the staff of the Tri-State Dialysis Center.