Daniel P. Wagner

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Wagner, Daniel P. Anoka - Daniel "Dan" Wagner, longtime resident of Blaine, peacefully passed away on Saturday evening, June 12, 2021 at the age of 87 at his home in River Oaks in Anoka with his loving wife Joan at his side. Born on December 26, 1933 to the late George and Margaret (Fischer) Wagner, Dan was the eighth of ten children and grew up outside of Edgar, WI. He spent much of his childhood playing with his siblings and doing what he could to help out around the farm. In 1943 the family moved to a smaller farm on the outskirts of town where he fished in the nearby creek, forged his lifelong passion of hunting, and much to his parent's dismay even adopted a stray dog he named Wheeler. During school Dan played basketball and was in the choir, graduating from Edgar High School in 1952. After high school, Dan joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in post-war Germany. After early mornings of hard work, he spent his afternoons playing baseball, basketball, and football as well as getting out to explore. After his time in the Service, Dan and Joan moved to Minnesota. For over 30 years Dan drove for Advance United with a near perfect driving record; he was also a proud member of the Teamsters Local 638. Outside of work, he enjoyed fixing things up around the house, tending to his large garden in the backyard, and trying to outsmart and outwit his kids. The latter has provided his family with many stories and Wagner-isms to enjoy and to pass on. Dan loved spending time in the outdoors, and his hobbies reflected that. He liked to camp, ice fish, hunt for deer, birds, and turkeys, and he even tagged along for a moose hunt or two. There were countless trips up north with family and friends, where he spent time at "the bunkhouse" and in the Boundary Waters. Later in life, Dan liked to travel, play blackjack, volunteer at a local food shelf, and he was always trying to get rid of the pesky squirrels in his yard. On April 28, 1956, Dan married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Joan Jagodzinski at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgar; this April marked their 65th wedding anniversary, which he was so happy to celebrate. First moving to Minneapolis and then settling in Blaine, together they raised four children, all of whom survive him: Susan (David Snyder), Superior, WI; Thomas (Wendy), Champlin, MN; Greg (Sheila), Andover, MN; and Glenn (Lisa), Plymouth, MN. Known as "Grandpa Danny" to his six grandkids, Jake, Erik, Andrea, Zachary, Natasha, and Alaina, they will miss their trips to the casino and the Rose Garden Chinese restaurant with him. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by siblings George (Ann), Valparaiso, FL, and Dolores (Paul) Gohdes, Madison, WI; in-laws Ervin (Arlene) Jagodzinski, and Janet Trawicki, all of Edgar, WI, and Theodora "Teddy" Theiler, Perrysburg, OH; as well as almost too many nieces and nephews to count. He was preceded in death by brothers Roman (Hazel) and Gerald; sisters Marie McWatters, Germaine (Reuben) Zweck, Sister Margaret Wagner FSPA, Joan (Arden) Baeseman, and Eunice (Earl) Tess; as well as brothers-in-law Joseph Theiler and Anthony Trawicki, who served as his best man and was a lifelong friend. Visitation for Dan will be held on Friday, June 25 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Washburn McReavy Funeral Home in Coon Rapids (1827 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433) with a funeral service beginning at 3:00 p.m. There will be a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to ACBC Food Shelf (PO Box 774, Anoka, MN 55303) or a charity of your choice in Dan's honor. Washburn-McReavy.com Coon Rapids Chapel 763-767-1000

Published on June 20, 2021