Memorial
Richard C. Wagner, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, April 20, 2017, as a result of being shot by a jealous husband. Services will be held in any church that will have him. Friends, if any, may call at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel from 4:00-4:15pm on St. Swithins Day. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial, if that is not a conflict of interest.
Richard is survived by his two daughters, Robin Wagner of Cedar Rapids, Renee (Lowell) Petzoldt of Napoleon, Ohio and two grandchildren, Blake and Courtney. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 summers, Ruth, twin sons Richard and Robert and his adopted parents William and Bertha Wagner. If there are any additional children, they have been kept hidden.
Richard was born in Minneapolis, MN on August 28, 1924 to Bernice Paulson.(?) His father scurried into the vastness of the Minnesota forests and has not been heard from since. His birth mother was in and out of his early life until the care and feeding fell to William and Bertha Wagner, who were childless. They had wanted a girl, but Richard refused to cross-dress. They finally gave in and adopted him when he was in fifth grade. Richard said that he was sure that later they regretted their decision. The family moved around a lot, as jobs were scarce, finally landing in Milwaukee. At that time Richard transitioned from an 86 student high school in Lomira, WI to Pulaski High School with an enrollment of approximately 2000. In 1942 he graduated from Pulaski High School but was unable to enlist immediately in the Navy as he had hoped. He went to work at Harnischfeger until he was able to enlist in February 1943 for a six year hitch, which showed how hard the Navy was!
Upon reporting to the naval base in Great Lakes, IL, Richard was diagnosed with the measles and sent straight to sick bay. He was discharged about 10 days later and promptly returned the same afternoon with the mumps. He finally made it to boot camp and once he graduated he was sent to Radio school, Miami University, Oxford, OH. The good thing about radio school was the Western College for Women was adjoining. Toward the end of training, Richard spouted off his mouth (a trait that would stick with him throughout life) and was overheard by the commanding officer and assigned several hours of extra duty. However, this allowed him to make friends with the exec., and when the time came for assignments, he was asked where he wanted to go. Richard said since he heard submarine Sailors made more money, it was an obvious choice.
He was sent to New London, CT and passed the physical. After graduation, he was assigned to the USS-11, SS116, a ship built in 1916 and was used for routine matters. Eventually he was transferred to Pearl Harbor where he picked up the USS Spikefish, SS404. By this time, the Japanese were pretty much in hiding and this made for pickings. Eventually the bomb was dropped and it was over. Richard returned to the states and back to New London. Since there was still time left on his enlistment he was sent to San Diego which upset him greatly. Since there weren’t any teletypes on the subs then he was assigned to a radio station in Panama where he worked the commercial circuits. That was a pretty good duty even though it was located out in the jungle. Finally his discharge date arrived and he returned to Milwaukee.
Once he returned home, his parents could not stand Richard laying around, so he got a job as an insurance inspector with Retail Credit. He continued fooling people and got into training new employees and going out and assisting in other offices.
As a result of a blind date, he met and married Ruth Schaars. They fooled all of the relatives when they switched their wedding date from November to September 29, 1950.
Apparently, Richard had done such a wonderful job getting rid of Hitler that the US Navy felt it needed his services during the Korean War and was recalled to duty. He was immediately sent back to New London and picked up the USS Chivo, SS341. Since the war was in Korea, he spent his time in Euopre and as a result of the naval career, he spent time in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific and Mediterranean. He was discharged in 1953 and returned to Milwaukee and Retail Credit. Throughout his military career on a submarine, he held the jobs of radio man while on the surface, andalos radar man and sonar man while submerged.
Richard got lucky again, and became involved in the training and working relief at other offices. Eventually he was transferred to the Racine, WI sub office and from there was sent as an assistant manager in Rockford, IL.
Ruth and Richard enjoyed Rockford and were very active building the parochial school. On the day that Ruth accepted a job as church secretary, Richard was informed that they wanted him to go to Cedar Rapids, IA, wherever that was, so they moved. During this time he obtained a CPCU designation which was a five year course and resulted in him reaching a lot of insurance classes and holding insurance seminars throughout the midwest.
After spending a total of 14 years with Retail Credit, Richard got upset with them and left for Oin AAL for 2 years. On a visit to United Fire and Casualtyhis companion, conversation came about for Richard to work for them which he accepted. Starting as an underwriter, which the company claimed he wasn’t, and eventually becoming a marketing representative with his own territory. Because of United Life, he and Ruth were fortunate to make many trips to Hawaii, Europe, cruises and several other spots in the US. When United Fired decided to eliminate the job of marketing director, Richard was eligible for retirement.
Richard enjoyed sports, played basketball and softball but was a real klutz in other sports but generally tried. He also enjoyed singing and was a member of various groups such as Harmony Hawks, and many church choirs. He was a lifelong member of the VFW and did a lot of refereeing and umpire work in and around Cedar Rapids. He was a member of the IHSAA, IGHSAU, CR Metro Umpires Association. Probably, his biggest enjoyment was singing with a men’s group for many years. At times it seemed like they were the only Lutherans that could get along with each other.
After 58 years, Richard lost his companion, Ruth in March of 2008. She had been ill for several years and required his attention. During this time, Richard volunteered a lot at St. Luke’s Hospital in the Emergency Department and logged several thousand hours there. He received an award for Volunteer of the year. He also received an unexpected award, as caregiver of the year, for his care of Ruth. He said that she had put up with a lot from him.
Richard felt he was a very fortunate person, blessed with two children who didn’t give them too many gray hairs, a flexible and very independent wife that kept the family on a steady course and grandchildren who he heard from now and again. Both grandchildren brought their current romantic interests to Cedar Rapids for his approval.
One of his only disappointments was seeing the damage so-called Christians do to each other. Richard felt Lutherans seem to be especially good at this and if he gets to heaven, he intends to ask God why this is so.