WOLSEY — Melvin Wagner, 91, of Wolsey, passed away Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Huron Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family.

His funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 5, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wolsey.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Hershman-Gordon American Legion Post #59, Wolsey. His service will be livestreamed.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church.

Melvin Donald Wagner was born Jan. 3, 1933, to George and Pauline Wagner, on the family farm near Wolsey. He attended grade school in a one room school, then Huron High School for one year, and then Wolsey High School where he graduated in 1951.

In 1952, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at several locations in the United States. While in Arizona he met Janice Heck of Urbana, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1955, Melvin and Janice were married in the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glendale, Ariz. Melvin was honorably discharged in 1956.

The young couple returned to South Dakota to farm at several locations before settling 2 ½ miles north of the George Wagner family farm in 1958. In 1968 when his parents retired, Melvin and Janice bought and moved to the family farm. Melvin farmed up until his death.
Melvin was baptized, confirmed, and remained an active member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wolsey. He was also a member of the Hershman Gordan American Legion Post #59 in Wolsey.

He was preceded in death by one son, Steven Donald Wagner; his parents, George and Pauline Wagner; one brother, Doane Wagner; and one brother-in-law, Ken Rand.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife of 68 years, Janice of Wolsey; five children, Ellen (Gerry) Karpen of Sherman, Beth Schiltz of Pierre, Donna (Ted) Bartel of Wolsey, Donald Wagner of Huron and Douglas Wagner of Huron; nine grandchildren, Erin (Brandon) Kruse, Dylan (Kalie) Schiltz, Tully Bartel, Torria (Jason) Howard, Jessica Anderson, Patrick (Kimberly) Bartel, Joshua (Amanda) Bartel, Elie Crandell and Jonathan Wagner; 14 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; one sister, Marcene Rand of Phoenix, Ariz.; one brother, Jim (Peg) Wagner of Cottonwood, Ariz.; one sister-in-law, Charlotte Pietrantone of Columbia, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

Kuhler Funeral Home has been entrusted with his arrangements.

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