William Gene Wagner

William Gene “Bill” Wagner was born October 9, 1922 in Peru, IL, the only child of William Reinhardt Wagner and Orra Jean Wagner. He peacefully passed away after a long and healthy life on February 12, 2020 at the age of 97 in Sun City, Arizona.

Bill grew up in LaSalle, IL, where his extended family worked in various roles for Westclox Company. He and his parents spent summers touring regions of the country in his father’s 1928 Nash, eventually seeing all 48 states. As a boy Bill learned to swim in nearby Dixon, IL, instructed by then lifeguard, and future president, Ronald Reagan.

After graduating from Illinois Valley Community College in 1942, Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps cadet training program, serving as a bombardier on B-17’s and then as a radio operator/aerial gunner on B-29’s in the West Coast Training Command. Bill would recall that his experiences with frostbite and the cold at high altitude in non-pressurized bombers led to his desire to move to a warm climate following the war.

After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1946, Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in Personnel and Psychology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and then attended graduate school at Northwestern University while working as a Personnel Counselor for the Western Electric Company of Chicago. He then made his move to warmer climates accepting a job as a Personnel Analyst for the City of Los Angeles, where he lived until 1956. While working in this position, he attended evening graduate school at the University of Southern California.

Having spent time in Arizona during his military training, he was interested in moving to Phoenix and leaving the air pollution of Los Angeles. He accepted a position with the City of Phoenix Personnel Department in 1956, developing written exams and interviewing prospects for city positions. Bill’s most rewarding experiences while at the City of Phoenix were related to his pioneering of an Employee Assistance Program (the first in the State), and the years he counseled troubled employees. He was also recognized for his outreach efforts for police officers and their families as they faced the stresses of that position. When Bill joined the City of Phoenix, it had 1,100 employees. When he retired in 1991, the city had over 11,000 employees. During his career in Phoenix he also taught a variety of evening business classes for Maricopa County Community College.

In 1956, Bill met the love of his life, Marlene Zimmerman, at Bob’s Big Boy restaurant in Phoenix. Unfortunately, she was on a date with another at the time. His plan was to write a note on the back of a business card and slip it to her as she walked past their booth. It didn’t work. However, a few minutes later, as her date was paying the check, Bill saw his chance. Walking past, he discreetly placed the card in her coat pocket as she waited near the cashier. They dated and were married within the year, followed by a loving marriage of over 62 years. The couple moved to Sun City, AZ after Bill retired.

Throughout his adult life, Bill was an avid fan and collector of antique cars, and was a member of several different owners’ clubs. He could frequently be found showing his cars at various events and always had an interest in what would be his next purchase and sale. Automobiles often served as a means for Bill’s favorite activity of making new friends and striking up conversations with people.

In his later eighties, Bill developed an interest in writing and, after writing his memoirs, began to write short stories and poems, all handwritten with his distinctive script. One of his poems, written as he was reflecting on his 90th birthday, is reprinted below.

Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlene, his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Barton King of Tucson, AZ, his son and daughter-in-law William R. and Angelica Wagner of Pittsburgh, PA, and two grandsons William R. Wagner and Weston G. Wagner.

A Memorial Service is being planned for a later date.

THE END OF THE ROAD

When you come to the end of the road

There’s just nowhere else you can go

The closed locked gate won’t open

No matter how hard you try

It says, pardner, you’re not going beyond

You’re not going to see where the road goes from here

No matter how hard you try

You have traveled many miles

On roads throughout our land

You have seen many things, talked to many folks

Shared their sorrows and joys

There’s not much else you can do

So just settle down

And let the Lord open the gate

For only He has the key!

- William G. Wagner