Date of Birth:
Tuesday, July 10, 1928
Date of Death:
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Age:
96 years old

Mabel R. Wagner

Mabel Rosella Wagner, age 96, passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at her home in Rochester, MN, surrounded by loved ones. Mabel was born on July 10, 1928, to Clifford and Josephine Brekke in Ellington Township of Dodge County, Minnesota. Mabel was a child of the Great Depression and the oldest of eight children. She graduated from District #68 Country School at the end of eighth grade. Mabel grew up working hard on her parents’ and grandparent’s family farms, where she developed a very strong work ethic.

On November 15, 1952, Mabel married the love of her life, Edwin Wagner. Mabel and Ed moved to Rochester and together they raised five daughters: Barb, Bonnie, Ginny, Dottie and Mary. Mabel worked at Lynn’s Diner (in downtown Rochester and across from St. Mary’s Hospital) from 1954 to 1971, at the Rochester State Hospital as a dietary cook from 1971 until its closure in 1982, and at the Cambridge State Hospital as dietary supervisor and cook from 1982 until 1989. Upon Mabel and Ed’s retirements in 1989, they returned to their home in Rochester.

Mabel and Ed found great joy spending time with family, family pets and family friends. They were always eager to celebrate holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and reunions and hosted many celebrations. Mabel and Ed enjoyed country music and dancing, especially to the music of The Chmielewski Funtime Band.  Mabel was a wonderful cook and baker and loved to share meals and baked treats  with all she knew, she was famous for her apple pies and raised donuts! Mabel’s special interests included  gardening, canning and freezing, camping, fishing, snowmobiling and traveling. For more than a decade, Mabel and Ed 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. Mabel’s hobbies included sewing, knitting and crocheting. In her later years, Mabel made hundreds of quilts for family, friends, residents of the Veteran’s Home and various charities in Rochester. Mabel truly had a life well-lived!

Mabel is survived by her 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. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren (Michelle, Steve, Jon, Kris, Lacey, Brianna, Jillian, Alisha, Emily, Adam), 19 great grandchildren (Joshua, Brandi, Colton, Kennedy, Kaiden, Crimzen, Gavin, Irelynn, Lyla, Devon, Courtney, Emma, Gracey, Acesyn, Skylee, Harrison, Ellison, Hayden, Wyatt), 3 great-great grandchildren (Kayleigh, Lynken, Shepherd),  five siblings; Ida Lyke, Marion Flom and Butch Brekke, all of Claremont, Marilyn Trelstad of Zumbrota, and Lucy Lee of Kenyon; many nieces and nephews, Pete Bowe of Rochester, and a gentle Huskie named Ripley.

Mabel was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years and 7 months, Edwin Wagner, her parents, Clifford and Josephine Brekke, her sister and brother, Delores and Victor Brekke, her mother in-law, Alma Wagner, her sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Helmer Ause, her sisters’ husbands, Benny Flom, Arly Trelstad and Lyle Lyke, and two grandsons, Edwin Chicos and Andrew (A.J.) Burt.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Henry Shultz, Mabel’s physician of more than 40 years, for the wonderful care he provided Mabel throughout her life, and Mayo Clinic’s Palliative Care and Hospice Staff for all their support and care, Also, a special thank-you to Pastor Paul Bauch for his devotion and spiritual guidance the past 24 years, and Debbie Adams and Kim Sullivan for their friendship and compassion.

Macken Funeral Home in Rochester is coordinating the funeral arrangements. The funeral service will be held at Peace United Church of Christ at 1503 2nd Avenue NE, Rochester, MN, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with Visitation from 9:00-11:00 am, Funeral Service at 11:00 am, Luncheon at 12:00, and Internment after the luncheon at Grandview Memorial Gardens, 1300 Marion Road SE, Rochester.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester or Paws and Claws of Rochester.