Funeral services for Edward will be held on Friday, July 30, 2010, 11:00 a.m., at the Iten Funeral Home in Browerville. Friends may call on Thursday, July 29, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., at the Iten Funeral Home in Browerville and on the day of the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be held at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery, Little Falls.
Edward Joseph Wagner’s journey through life ended on July 23, 2010. His travels started with his birth to Frank and Elizabeth (Tlusty) Wagner on September 21, 1916, at the family farm in Moran Township, Todd County, Minnesota. In the early years, great responsibility fell on Ed being he was the oldest of 8. The depression came and because of his father’s poor health, he had to try to provide for the family. Besides farming at home, he went to North Dakota to help with grain harvest to make extra money for the family.
Later, Ed was called to service in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was trained as a teletype repairman and when training was done, he was ordered to report to the East Coast for deployment to North Africa. The Army didn’t get him there on time, and Ed missed the deployment. After that, he was never part of a regular unit and he later became attached to what was designated as a Special Detail, which he served within several capacities for the duration of the war in Europe.
When the war was over, he returned to the family farm. On July 8, 1949, he married Jeannine Johnson, and together they had three sons Dale, Mike and Randy. Ed continued to farm with his brothers, Tony and Tom, for many years. The three brothers were successful and well thought of by their neighbors.
During the Vietnam War, Ed left the family farm to work at the Twin Cities Arsenal, where he used his mechanical knowledge as a repairman. After working there for about 2 years, he returned to the family farm. As he moved toward retirement, his son Mike and daughter-in-law Teresa started to take over the farm responsibilities. Ed left the farm for the last time on June 24 when he went to the Care Center in Clarissa. This turned out to be the last stop on his earthly journey.
Ed was very mechanically gifted and could often be found in his workshop repairing something. He also enjoyed hunting, especially deer, and made several trips to Montana with his close friend, Mike Pogreba. He liked sucker fishing each spring and in his later years, he enjoyed fishing during the summer. He loved to play horseshoes and poker with his nephews and neighbors and was known as “The Captain”. He was a hard worker, but always tried to have Sunday as his day of rest. Now he has earned eternal rest. May God Bless Him.
Ed is survived by his wife Jeannine. Three sons: Dale (Tonia), Michael (Teresa), and Randy. One sister, Margaret Tepley and 8 grandchildren: Amber, Levi, Frank, Sara, Becki, Stacy, Jake, and Hannah. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Anton, Thomas, and James, and sisters, Agnes, Clara and Baby Louise.