HERBERT WAGNER

1935 - 2015

Herbert Wagner went to his eternal home on Monday, April 6, 2015 to be with his Lord and Saviour.
The Funeral Service was held at Peace Lutheran Church, 4619 - 56 Avenue, Taber on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. Private burial followed at the Taber Memorial Garden.
Besides Erika, his loving wife of fifty years, Herbert is survived by their children Ron Wagner of Taber, Linda (Mike) Armstrong of Taber and James Wagner of Montreal, Quebec; grandchildren Jennifer Wagner, Nash Wagner, Dillon Armstrong and Brynn Armstrong. He is also survived by his siblings Hugo Wagner and Erika Hilz; in-laws Hilde (Karl) Kauck, Hermann (Hanka) Kempf, Rose (Don) Neter, Ilse Kempf and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins in Canada and Germany.
Herbert was predeceased by his parents Johannes and Elsa Wagner; father-in-law and mother-in-law Gottlieb and Christine Kempf; sisters-in-law Edith Kempf, Frieda Bodza and brother-in-law Herbert Kempf.
Herbert was born on June 17, 1935 in Borodino, Bessarabia (German settlement) to parents Johannes and Elsa Wagner. He emigrated from Bessarabia as a child at the beginning of the war in 1939 to Germany. They stayed until 1953 when the family immigrated to Canada for beet labour in Diamond City. The family was sponsored by Lutheran Churches of America for a period of two years in the sugar beet industry. During the growing season, Herb worked on the farm and during the winter up north in the bush, logging. The family moved to Taber in 1955 and once again did beets for a local farmer. In 1959 they rented a farm south of Taber by Horsefly Lake, and bought the same farm in 1961. He married Erika in September, 1964 and had three children, Ron, Linda and James.
More land was bought and Herb farmed in partnership with his father and brother, they farmed grains, hay, sugar beets as well as a cow/calf operation. The family won many high tonnage Sugar Beet King awards over the years. Herb worked very hard and could always find something to do, no matter the season. His one hobby was fishing in streams and ice fishing at the nearby Horsefly Lake. If he caught more than we could use, he would filet all of them and pass them onto our friends. Herb had a very generous nature and was always willing to help his neighbours and friends, and share with them what he had or what they needed. He was an elder, trustee and treasurer with Peace Lutheran Church for more than thirty years.
Herb loved his family dearly and always showed it by making sure his family lacked nothing and by always being there to support them. Despite his weak condition, Herb was able to enjoy a 50th anniversary celebration with his children and grandchildren.
At the end, Herb was ready to meet his Lord and Saviour and could still quote his verse from his confirmation, more than sixty years ago, Genesis 28:15: “And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Herbert’s name may be made directly to the charity of one’s personal choice.