Alphonsus M. Wagner

Alphonsus M. Wagner, 98 passed away on Thursday evening, February 4, 2016 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake, ND. Mass of the Resurrection for Alphonsus will be held on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 4:00 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Alphonsus Mathias, son of Casper and Anna (Ehlen) Wagner was born on October 30, 1917 at Plaza, North Dakota. He was reared and educated in the Plaza area and when Alphonsus was a teenager, the family moved to rural Crary, ND. He graduated from Crary High School with the class of 1937. He continued his education at the Agricultural School in Fargo, ND. Alphonsus entered the United States Army at Fort Crook, Nebraska on April 5, 1943 and served his country in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre in France and Germany. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin on February 12, 1946 with the rank of Tech Sergeant. He returned to the Crary area and was eventually farming for 33 years in partnership with his brother Jim. Alphonsus met his future bride while attending Skating Parties at Stump Lake. They fell in love and on November 12, 1959, he was united in marriage to his beloved Rita Berg at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tokio, ND. They purchased a farm, rural Crary and they lived, worked, raised their daughters and farmed side by side until retiring and then moving to Devils Lake in 2007. In those early years, farming was also milking cows, tending large gardens and raising whatever livestock or food you needed to provide for your family. Alphonsus served on the South Minnewaukan Township Board for over 40 years. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church until it closed and was sexton of Sacred Heart Cemetery for many years. He faithfully and devoutly led the Rosary before Mass for over 25 years, was a Eucharistic Minister and was a devoted member of the Legion of Mary. Alphonsus enjoyed playing cards and was a supporter of the St. Jude Circle card parties. He enjoyed gardening but spending time with his family and friends were most precious to him. Alphonsus is survived by his loving family. His wife Rita of 56 years; precious daughters Barbara Wagner and Ann Wagner both of Grand Forks, Mary Wagner of Fargo and Ruth Wagner of Devils Lake; grandson Shawn also of Devils Lake; sister Ilene Lee, Devils Lake and several nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Margaret; siblings Arthur in infancy, James Wagner and Delores McCanna; in-laws Albert and Veronica Berg, Sara Berg in infancy, Marie Berg, Lawrence Berg, Eileen Evanson and Leo Berg. Casket Bearers will be Alphonsus’s Nephews and Tom Mertens and C.J. Bloomquist. Reading the Scriptures will be Mary Wagner and Gift Bearers will be Barbara, Ann, Mary and Ruth. Music will be provided by JoDee Lagein.