Thomas F. Wagner, Jr., 73, La Porte, died at 8:20 p.m., Sunday (Nov. 23, 2008) at the LaPorte Hospital.
He was born July 19, 1935, in Wood, Pennsylvania, to the late Thomas F. Sr. and Virginia Lear Wagner. On Jan. 18, 1957, in Wood, Pennsylvania, he married Donna Hay who survives. He has been in LaPorte since 1956, coming from Acosta, Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his children, Tim Wagner(Donna), Rick Wagner(Sheri) and Tracey Duszynski(Jim), all of La Porte; nine grandchildren, Laura (Brad) McNew, Lisa Wagner, Maria Wagner, Nicholas Wagner, Kelly Wagner, Travis Wagner, Kortney Wagner, Sean Biehl and Rachel Duszynski; four great grandchildren, Bryce McNew, Camden Campose, Ian Wagner and Wesley Wagner; a sister, Doris Shunk, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Olis Reedy and Sophia Baltozer; one brother, Edward Wagner; and one granddaughter, Melinda Wagner.
He attended Boswell High School in Pennsylvania before entering the U.S. Army. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War. He retired in 1998 after fourteen years at Stanley Knight, Sawyer, MI. He worked at Clark Equipment in Michigan City for seventeen years. After they closed, he went to Allis Chalmers in LaPorte for 10 ½ years.
Tom loved playing baseball and was a member of the 1959 undefeated 1st National Cubs. He enjoyed managing Little League and Babe Ruth Leagues. He loved fishing and bowling. He attended LaPorte Missionary Church for fifty years.
There will be a Celebration of Life Service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 at the Cutler Funeral Home with the Rev. Bud Walterhouse officiating. There will be a time of visitation on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the Funeral Home. Full military honors will take place at the funeral home. Burial will take place privately at Patton Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the LaPorte Missionary Church, 104 E. 18th, La Porte, IN 46350