John Wagner Sr.

WAGNER John S. Wagner Sr., aged 101 of Grand Rapids, passed away on Thursday morning, October 16, 2014 at Whispering Way Care Center. John was born to polish immigrants, Stanislaus and Marianna Wagner (Kiela) in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. In 1920, the family moved to Grand Rapid, MI where John enrolled at Sacred Heart Parish Elementary School. In 1931, John Graduated from Union High School in Grand Rapids. He later completed a training course in machine shop from Davis Tech High School. He was employed at Jarvis Corporation as a tool and die maker. This is where he met a young lady by the name of Thaddea Rose Gryczanowski after a year of courtship. They were married the 25th of June, 1938. John became a father with the birth of his son, John Robert Wagner Jr., on March 20, 1940. The Wagner’s spent vacation time in the Upper Peninsula where they enjoyed fishing, traveling, and sight-seeing. John and Thaddea also spent vacations in Florida where they viewed the many attractions Florida had to offer. After retirement, for 18 years, they spent the months of February and March at South Padre Island where they were attracted to surf-fishing and enjoyed walking on the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Favorite pastimes were fishing, golfing, and enjoying the State Parks of Michigan. John’s favorite attractions were watching high school sports. John was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Polish Falcons Aid Society, its oldest living member, St. Ladislaus Aid Society, and West Catholic Booster’s Club. John was preceded in death by his loving wife Thaddea Wagner in 2006 and his dear son, John Wagner Jr. in June of 2014. He is survived by his sister, Estelle Folkert; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alice Uzarski, Leo and Helen Gryzan and Chet Gryzan as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Relatives and friends will meet at the church on Monday from 9:00 AM until the Mass begins at 10:00 AM. To sign John’s guest book and to leave your own memory of him, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com