Skip to content
Edward "Ed" Walter Wagner
Lilah Crowe2021-07-25T15:51:54-05:00
- Name: Edward "Ed" Walter Wagner
- Location of Birth: Davenport, Iowa
- Date of Birth: January 8, 1932
- Date of Death: August 19, 1999 (67 years old)
- Parents: Alvin Wagner and Bertha (Johannsen) Wagner
- High School and Class:
- College:
- Highest Rank: S2 (Seaman 2nd Class)
- Branch: Navy
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In:
- Place Sworn In:
- Date of Discharge:
- Place of Discharge:
-
- Military Awards:
- Military Highlights:
- Wars Involved:
Korean Conflict
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Ed grew up and attended schools in Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa.
On August 11, 1956, he married Elizabeth "Betty" VenHuizen in Clinton, Iowa. They moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where he worked as an actuary with National Old Line Insurance Company. He returned to Clinton where he worked for Fidelity Life and later served as chief actuary and executive officer with Royal Neighbors in Rock Island, Illinois. He again returned to Clinton where he designed and constructed homes.
In 1973, Ed lived in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and worked for Aid Association for Lutherans until returning to Little Rock in 1974, working as chief actuary with the American Foundation and then with Computronics. He then moved to Denver, working for Western Preferred Life Insurance Company as executive vice president and chief actuary. In 1979 he returned to Grand Rapids as a district manager for Western Preferred. He also worked for Mills Lumber Company, as a real estate agent, operated an Independent Insurance Agency and acted as a general contractor in Grand Rapids.
His hobbies included fly fishing, woodworking, canoeing in the BWCA, traveling and hunting.
Ed was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, serving as president and elder. Prior to moving to Grand Rapids, he taught Sunday School, served as a youth counselor and served on church councils in various positions. Ed was active in Via de Cristo. He served as president of Grand Rapids Rotary Club and as coordinator of the Rotary Foundation of which he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member of Kiwanis Club in Little Rock.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Bertha (Johannsen) Wagner and an infant brother, Delbert.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters Jane (Tim) Whaling and Becky (Steven) Vorel; a son, Mark (Brenda); a brother, Dan and five grandchildren.
Ed died at his home in Cohasset, Minnesota and is buried in Wildwood Cemetery at Cohasset, Minnesota. (Plot c44e22)
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
Page load link