Date of Birth:
Sunday, March 27, 1927
Date of Death:
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Age:
97 years old

Edwin Earl Elmer Wagner

Edwin Earl Elmer Wagner, age 97, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at his home in Rochester, MN, surrounded by loved ones. Edwin (Ed) was born on March 27, 1927, to John and Alma (Gerking) Wagner in Willow River, Minnesota. At the end of his junior year in high school, Ed was drafted into the military during the final draft of WWII. Ed served in the 5th Army Air Force from June 1945 to November 1948, including 26 months of service in Japan. After his military discharge, Ed relocated to Rochester and began a career as a psychiatric technician at Rochester State Hospital.

On November 15, 1952, Ed married the love of his life, Mabel Brekke, and together they raised five daughters: Barb, Bonnie, Ginny, Dottie and Mary. Ed continued to work at the Rochester State Hospital until its closure in 1982 when he then transferred to Cambridge State Hospital in MN, completing his state service. Upon their retirements in 1989, Ed and Mabel returned to their home in Rochester.

Ed’s greatest joy was found spending time with his family, the family pets and family friends. His hobbies included reading, fishing, hunting, camping, snowmobiling, auto mechanics, watching stock car races, and bird watching. Ed enjoyed country music and he loved to dance, especially to the music of his childhood friend’s band, The Chmielewski Funtime Band. 

Ed was proud of his military service and was a proud American. For more than a decade, Ed and Mabel attended the annual 5th Air Force reunions where they made life-long friends and traveled to cities and Air Force museums across the United States. In 2011, Ed was invited on an “Honor Flight” with veterans of WWII to visit war memorials in Washington D.C.; the trip became the honor of his life.

Ed is survived by his wife of nearly 72 years, Mabel, and his five daughters: Barb (Roy) Bidwell of Dodge Center, Bonnie (Brian) Crawford of Rochester, Ginny (Charley) Burt of Byron, Dottie Wagner of Dover, and Mary Bowe of Rochester. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren (Michelle, Steve, Jon, Kris, Lacey, Brianna, Jillian, Alisha, Emily, Adam), 18 great grandchildren (Joshua, Brandi, Colton, Kennedy, Kaiden, Crimzen, Gavin, Irelynn, Lyla, Devon, Courtney, Emma, Gracey, Acesyn, Harrison, Ellison, Hayden, Wyatt), 3 great-great grandchildren (Kayleigh, Lynken, Shepherd), many nieces and nephews, Pete Bowe of Rochester, and a gentle Husky named Ripley.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alma Wagner, his father and mother in-law, Clifford and Josephine Brekke, his sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Helmer Ause, a brother-in law, Victor Brekke, and two grandsons, Edwin Chicos and Andrew (A.J.) Burt.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Henry Shultz, Ed’s physician of more than 40 years, for the wonderful care he provided Ed throughout his life, and Mayo Clinic’s Palliative Care and Hospice Staff for all their support and care during the past year.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Peace United Church of Christ, 1503 2nd Avenue NE, Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM. A luncheon will be at 12:00, and Interment at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester will take place immediately following the luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester, Paws and Claws of Rochester, and soldier’s Field Veteran’s  Memorial Fund in Rochester.