Dean Howard Wagner

This is the story of Dean Howard Wagner. Dean was a great guy that was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Our Papa Dean, as he was called by his grandchildren, was a faithful husband, loving father and doting grandfather. Dean's story begins on February 1, 1951, the third child and only son of Howard and Darlene (Elliott) Wagner. Dean spent his childhood and would grow up with friends in Bristow, Iowa. He was proud to be an Allison-Bristow Trojan, graduating with the class of 1969. He often reminisced about the good times and closeness of his class and always looked forward to his class reunions. Dean married his sweetheart, Barbara Wubbena on October 12, 1973, at St. James Lutheran Church, in Allison. They raised three children, Jennifer, John, and Laura. Dean enjoyed that his children could grow up on the farm and enjoy country life. Dean liked sports, although professional and college sports did not interest him. He held "season tickets" to his grandchildren's sporting events and school activities. One of his weaknesses was the difficulty to commit to attending an event in three days, but had no problem signing up for golf tournaments six months away. He knew his priorities! Dean appreciated his golf invites from his friend, Johnny. When Dean's eyesight began to fail, he appreciated John's patience and extra set of eyes looking for that lost golf ball. Dean was a good golfer, but he often said that the laughs and time spent with golf buddies were more important than the scorecard. Dean had an endless amount of faithful friends. It would be these friends who would help and support him as he made a change in his life through the Twelve Step Recovery Program. In September of 2018, Dean celebrated 36 years of sobriety, helping others, and was ever grateful to the friendships and knowledge of the program. As friends gathered in Dean's home on Tuesday evening for a final AA meeting with him, Dean's message for those attending was for them to know "he was so blessed." Even though Dean did not share a lot about this part of his life, his family says it was a huge part of him and made Dean who he was and who they loved. Dean would say, "Personal growth is not a journey of a thousand days or a journey of a lifetime, it is a journey of one day at a time." There was no denying that his grandchildren were his pride and joy. Watching them ride the golf cart, fish, swim and camp at Wagner Waters brought a smile to his face. He loved the noise, the rough housing and hated the silence when they all went home. Loved ones that will miss him until they are reunited are his wife of 45 years, Barbara Wagner of Greene, his daughter Jennifer (Chuck) Buseman of Waverly, son John (Stacy) Wagner of Finchford, daughter Laura (Brett) Morris of Parkersburg, sister Judy (Jerry) Aukes of Allison, sister Linda Wagner of Allison, uncle Bill Elliott of Mason City, brother-in-law Beryl (Shirley) Wubbena of Bristow, along with several cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Papa Dean's presence will be especially missed by his eleven grandchildren: Avery, Ben, Camryn and Jacoby Buseman, Evelyn, Conrad and Matilda Wagner, Macoy and Shore Mostek, and Melaina and Thomas Dean Morris. Loved ones that cleared the path for Dean and welcomed him home, on Friday, November 9, 2018, were his parents Howard and Darlene, paternal grandparents John and Ella Wagner, maternal grandparents Esther and Olaf Elliott, stepfather Darwin True, and father and mother-in-law Clarence and Gladys Wubbena. And so, the story continues as we start a new chapter of sharing memories, we will share his legacy and be ever grateful for our time with Dean. Dean was always humbled by the prayers for him during his illness. Thank you from his family, for being his friend. Rest in peace Papa Dean!

Tributes

Dean Howard Wagner

February 1, 1951 - November 9, 2018