WAGENS, Wayne A. 1968-1995

WAGENS, PAULEY, RINNELS, ROETHLER, SMITH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/26/2012 at 23:49:58

#1:

Funeral services for Wayne A. Wagens, 27, were held Saturday, April 8, 1995 at 11 a.m. in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Riceville with the Reverend Robert Pfeil officiating. Mr. Wagens passed away Monday, April 3, 1995 while working on his job near Elkhart, Indiana.

Wayne Allen Wagens was born March 13, 1968 in Iowa City, Iowa the son of Judy Rinnels. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Peter's Lutheran Church. He graduated from Crestwood High School in Cresco in 1987. He then graduated from the Over the Road Course at Hawkeye Community School, and he began working at his occupation as an over-the-road trucker.

Wayne was a Boy Scout and earned the highest award, the Rank of Eagle Scout, and also earned the Merit of Honor Award when he saved a boy from drowning. He was a member of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church up until his death.

On June 16, 1990 he was united in marriage to Tammi Pauley at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Following their marriage, they moved to Waterloo to make their home, and he went to work for the ReKab Trucking Company.

He is survived by his wife Tammi; two children, Scott and Courtney both at home; his mother, Judy Rinnels, Waterloo; his maternal grandmother, Thelma Barber, Waterloo; his foster parents, Jim and Anna Mae Roethler of Lime Springs; four brothers, William Wagens, Roger Wagens, Kevin Wagens and Clyde Eastman; and one foster brother, Robert Smith.

[Riceville Library Obituary Collection]
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#2:

Authorities looking into trucker's death

Authorities have been unable to determine the cause of death for a Waterloo trucker found dead in Indiana on Wednesday.

An autopsy was performed Thursday on Wayne A. Wagens, 27, of 530 Bayard St., but the coroner was unable to determine a reason for his death, according to an Indiana State Police report.

Authorities are waiting for the result of toxicology tests, according to the Indiana State Police. Wagens was found dead in his semi tractor trailer right outside the Elkhart, Indiana, exit on the Indiana Toll Road, also known as Interstate 80/90, that winds its way near the Michigan/Indiana border.

Wagens was eastbound for Massachusetts when the state police received an attempt-to-locate on Wagens, who was overdue to arrive at his destination, the state police said.

After checking the service areas along the state toll road, Wagens was found at the George N. Craig service area, in the cab of his tractor, the state police spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said the service areas have restaurants and gas stations where the truckers pull in for service or to sleep, and that's where Wagens was found.

Wagens worked for RAKAB Trucking (formerly R & A Trucking).

[Waterloo Courier - Friday, April 07, 1995]
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#3:

Trucker's death attributed to
overdose of methamphetamines

A Waterloo trucker found dead April 6 in Indiana died of an accidental overdose of methamphetamines, officials said.

Wayne A. Wagens, 27, of 530 Bayard St., was found dead in the cab of his semi-tractor trailer at a service area outside the Elkhart, Indiana., exit on the Indiana Toll Road.

Toxicology tests determined the cause of death was methamphetamine poisoning, said Elkhart County Coroner Jeanette Albert.

A substantial amount was found in Wagens' blood, Albert said. "It was unusually high, very, very high, four to five times higher than what it's supposed to be, than what would be the normal range if a doctor administered it," she said.

Indiana State Patrol Sgt. Dennis Boehler said authorities do not suspect foul play. The autopsy showed Wagens had been dead for two days, Albert said. A bag of the drug was found in his pocket, she said.

Authorities said they do not know if Wagens was using the drug due to long hours spent on the road. Wagens worked for RAKAB Trucking (formerly R & A Trucking)

Wagens' mother, Judy Rinnefs of Evansdale, said she has no idea what happened. "As far as I know he didn't do drugs," Rinnels said.

Methamphetamine, commonly called "speed," is often used recreationally as a stimulant.

"Some people will use speed in order to keep awake," said Robert E. Kramer, associate director of the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Social and Behavioral Research.

"Some people are addicted to that particular drug and they use it for the effect."

The drug is usually in the form of a pill when given by prescription for medical purposes, Kramer said. For illegal use, it tends to be snorted, injected, or laced with marijuana and smoked, he said.

[Waterloo Courier, Thursday, April 20, 1995]
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