WAGNER, Walter A. 1901-1998

WAGNER

Posted By: Jeannine Peterson (email)
Date: 3/28/2012 at 14:03:50

Walter A. Wagner, 97, of Grafton, died Thursday, December 3, 1998, at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar.

Funeral services were held Monday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with the Rev. Rose Marie Nack officiating. Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery.

He was born January 18, 1901, on his family's farm, east of Grafton, and was a life long member of that community until he entered the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center a year ago. He was the seventh of eight children born to German immigrant parents, August and Ernstine (Deunow) Wagner.

Walter was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Grafton. He was educated in the Grafton Public School system and attended Mankato Business College in Minnesota.

He was a journeyman carpenter employed by Herman Diedrich of the St. Ansgar area. In 1927, he purchased the Grafton Meat Market.

Walter married Verna Hasse on August 12, 1928. The couple operated the meat market until selling it in 1948. During World War II, Walter also became employed by the Standard Oil Company as the regional representative for their bulk delivery service. He retired in 1966.

He was a busy man throughout his life, even during his retirement years. At various times, he served on the local school board, held the position of secretary and treasurer of the Grafton Telephone Co., worked on the Heritage Depot restoration and the 1978 Grafton Centennial Celebration, assisted for many years during Turkey Day activities and was in general, a productive and interested member of the community. In retirement, he enjoyed a long association with the North Iowa Area Agency on Aging. He was proud of his German heritage and was fluent in the language.

He was a avid sportsman with an abiding concern for conservation. His favorite sports were hunting pheasants and fishing for small mouth bass. He was good at both.

He is survived by his two sons, Jim, of Montana, and Tom, of Grafton; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Dora Christians, St. Ansgar.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Vera; his parents; three brothers, three sisters; a daughter-in-law, and a great-granddaughter.

Mason City Globe Gazette December 1998