WAGONER, Dale Eugene 1936 - 2019

WAGONER, SARE, SMITH, SCHROEDER BOWLEN, BRANT, VU, BUTLER, SAMUEL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:28

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, July 29, 2019
Page 4

DALE EUGENE WAGONER
Sarasota, FL

Dale Eugene WAGONER, Ph.D., 82, of Sarasota, FL, passed away peacefully with family by his side on June 25, 2019, in Sarasota. Born October 12, 1936, in Niagara Falls, NY, Dale was the firstborn child of Harvey E. "Gene" and Jessie G. "Gladys" (SARE) WAGONER. He was a retired geneticist, researcher, educator, and musician, having earned Bachelor's degrees in Zoology (1964) and his Ph.D. while studying with renowned geneticist Dr. Hermann J. Muller, IU's first Nobel Laureate. At the USDA Metabolism & Radiation Research Laboratory in Fargo, ND, Dr. WAGONER published research on using genetics (vs. chemicals) for insect population control, and taught Genetics at North Dakota State University, also in Fargo. He was Professor of Biology and a Founding Faculty member at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, IA, where he researched long-term health benefits of Transcendental Meditation (TM). His professional career concluded at the highly-regarded New College in Sarasota. He was a member of Acacia Fraternity in Bloomington and of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society.

Dale was devoted to his parents, relocating to Florida to assist them, and sharing meals and playing card games with them daily. Known for his joyful and sweet spirit, warm and smiling eyes, quick and dry wit, encyclopedic memory, and skill at card and word games, Dale was a brilliant man with may avocational interests. A lifelong musician, Dale played upright bass, electric bass, and piano in standard jazz ensembles, notably the Ward Dunkirk Trio in Fargo; showed his champion Old English Sheepdog, Guinevere; and served in volunteer leadership for the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater. His love of nature was instilled early by family trips to Mendelssohn Lake in Canada; he enjoyed spelunking (caving) in southern Indiana during college, and over his lifetime made countless visits to national parks and forests. Dale and his (now late) wife Lorraine traveled extensively, visiting Europe and India to study TM, and taking long driving trips in the U.S. and Canada for sightseeing and pleasure. In the 1980's, Dale took an extended sabbatical so they could explore Colorado and Arizona, including building a homestead cabin, and trying their hands at prospecting for gold.

Following retirement, Dale began a new chapter with Vanessa SMITH of Sarasota, his beloved companion of twelve years, who survives. They traveled the world on 16 cruise adventures, and enjoyed movies, dining out, attending cultural events, and sharing time with family and friends. Physical health challenges ultimately limited Dale's ability to travel, yet he retained his zest for life, and in the past year began exploring family genealogy, and also picked up ukulele to play and sing songs he leared from his late mother and maternal grandmother.

Dale is survived by two daughters, Lisa M. WAGONER SCHROEDER (David T. SCHROEDER) of Indianapolis, IN, and Libra "Lee" BOWLEN of Bloomington; two sons, Christopher B. BRANT of Big Bear, CA, and Justin D. WAGONER (Quynh VU WAGONER) of Fountain Valley, CA; a sister, Elizabeth "Betty" BUTLER (Daniel W. BUTLER) and a brother, Bruce E. WAGONER (Carol J. WAGONER), all of Mendota Heights, MN; and four nieces, three nephews, five granddaughters, and three grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife of 31 years, Lorraine J. (SAMUEL) WAGONER.

Family, friends, and colleagues are invited to an open house-style Celebration of Life gathering on Sunday, August 18th, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the President's Room of the University Club of Indiana University at the Indiana Memorial Union, 900 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN. RSVPs welcomed (but not required) by email to: WagonerCelebration818@gmail.com; emailed remembrances and photos are also welcomed.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society (www.SigmaXi.org), or to any charity advocating for healthy oceans or access to clean water.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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