Thursday, September 22, 2016 ~ 10:30 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church ~ Wahoo, Nebraska
Interment at Sunrise Cemetery ~ Wahoo, Nebraska
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 ~ 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Svoboda Funeral Home ~ Wahoo, Nebraska
First Presbyterian Church ~ Wahoo, Nebraska
Phyllis J. Wagner, 88, of Wahoo, NE, died Monday, September 19, 2016 at the Saunders Care Center in Wahoo. She was born January 15, 1928 in Brock, NE to Austin and Ella (Garver) Owens. Phyllis graduated from Wahoo High School in 1945. On August 31, 1947, she was married to Bob Wagner in Wahoo.
Phyllis worked at Fairview Café for over 30 years and at the Wahoo Senior Center until she retired in 2012. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #4502 Auxiliary and American Legion #82 Auxiliary, where she was a past president of both. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Women, and Order of the Eastern Star.
She is survived by children: Beverly Specht of Wahoo and Richard (Diane) Wagner of Wahoo; grandchildren: Scott (Lynne) Specht, Kirk (April) Specht, Jenny (Gabe) Wagner Kramer, Matthew Wagner and fiancé Cara Harbstreet; great-grandchildren: Dalton, Conner, and Isabelle Specht and Ella Kramer; sister Janice (Kenneth) McCormick of Auburn; very special friend Ken Hanke of Wahoo.
She was preceded in death by husband Bob D. Wagner; brothers Kenneth Owens and Deward “Duke” Owens; and sister Reva Gilliam.
Bev and Rick, so very sorry to hear about Aunt Phyllis. I have many fond memories of family reunions in days gone by and some of our crazy antics (ie. chasing cousins with snakes Rick). Memorial Day celebrations at the VFW were a great time as well! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Janice (aka Jake; Smokey and Elaine’s daughter)
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family Bev.
Bev and Rick, I will cherish all our childhood memories of making our own ball teams,catching lightening bugs in mason jars and your Mom sitting there laughing at all of our antics.The Fairview Birthday parties with your
Mom serving us hamburgers & fries.Rest in peace Phyllis, your work is done….
Phyllis was a well known Wahoo personality. She served the community faithfully for her whole life. Our condolences to her family.
I remember your mom and my mom(Hilda Rezek) and their Birthday Club with Ardie Salon, Nadine Miners, Verna Rezac and a couple of others. The birthday girl would host it and fix a hot dish and everyone else would bring a dish. They would play Kings on the Corner and laugh a lot. My mom enjoyed that group. Your mom was always lots of fun.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of the lovely lady, Phyllis. Ken, maybe her & Otis are sharing Senior Citizen Center memories. Sincerely, Connie Seals.
Bev and Rick, we are so sorry for the loss of your Mom. I am Bruce Gilliam’s ex-wife Diane. Our daughters Amber and Melissa just found out on Facebook from Mike Gilliam. If I would have known I would have tried to make it to her funeral. Aunt Phyllis was a very special person to the entire Gilliam family. Bruce was in the hospital for 2 months and just went to a dementia care nursing home in Nebr. City last Friday. I have been thinking about her and was going to call her to tell her about Bruce. We invited her to Melissa’s baby shower hoping to see her and catch up on things. I am so shocked to hear this news. Was it sudden or was she Ill? We will let Bruce know although he may not understand since his dementia has really progressed. Take care!
Sorry for your Loss, I am a distant Relative, and I have contact with a Shirley Wagner the daughter of one of Bobs Brothers. I am doing quite a bit of Geneoloy and history on the Wagner-Owen line if you are interested a lot of info I have posted on Familysearch.org, it is a free site If I can be of any assistance let me know. Mike Anderson