Richard W. Wager

It is with great sadness that the family of Dick Wager announces his passing after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on January 26, 2019, at the age of 84. He has now been reunited with his parents William F. Wager and Inez E. (Koepke) and Sister Dianne. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of 60 years Donna (Hysong) of Fairborn, Ohio, and their children Mike (Shawna) of Plymouth, MN, Susan (Scott) Gillis of Vandalia, OH, Sandra Ortman of St. Charles, IL, Jim (Carrie) of Okinawa, Japan, and by his brother Bill (Patsy) Wager of Lake Mills, WI. He will be forever remembered by his Grandchildren Jenny (Paul) Ramseth, McKenzie, Jennifer (Michael) Coates, Logan Gillis, Frank (M.E.) Ortman, Kyle (Valerine) Ortman, Wesley Ortman, Olivia, Zachary, 5 Great-Grandchildren, numerous Nieces and Nephews, extended family, to include his dogs Skippy and Lizzy and his wonderful dear friends, especially those at South Point Village. He graduated from Lake Mills High School (Wisconsin) in 1953 and proudly served this Country in the Air Force for 20 years, working on Bomb and Navigational Systems for the B-47 and B-52 bombers. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he took a position at Wright Patterson AFB at the Strategic Air Command, Air Force Institute of Technology, continuing his career in avionics where he earned many achievements and awards for his service. His passion for his Faith, Family and Country was known not just by words but by his actions. He loved spending time with his family, whether it was watching sports, fishing, gardening, visiting back home at Lake Mills or wonderful family trips to his favorite places of Montana, Yellowstone, Cody, or Cabo. As long as his family was there and maybe a good pie for dessert, he couldn't ask for anything more. Special to his heart were the over 30 years of coaching soccer in the community. The young lives he impacted along the way with his leadership, guidance, respect and encouragement, are the same important gifts that he gave to all of his family and friends. He was a kind, caring, faithful and loving man, who had a wonderful life and we will be forever grateful to have been able to love him back. We will miss him and remember him each and every day, until we can meet again. Until then, he is a part of us all in our own meaningful way. The family would like to give special thanks to the Wright-Patterson AFB Cancer Center, where he was given the best of care, but also all the support and encouragement from kind and loving relationships, that helped him and our family's journey through his battle with cancer. We also would like to thank Hospice of Dayton, their support and loving care to help make his passing one of faith, peace and comfort will never ever be forgotten. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Tobias Funeral Home of Beavercreek, followed by a military burial at the National Veterans Cemetery in Dayton on Monday, February 11th at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton and the American Cancer Society.