Frank Louis Wagner

Frank was born in Kamiah, ID, July 10, 1940 to Lester and Margie Wagner. Frank attended grade school in Kamiah through the sixth grade. He moved to Lewiston, ID with his parents in 1952 and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1958. Frank worked for farmers around the Lewiston area during high school, primarily at the 21 Ranch. After high school, Frank worked in Fairbanks Alaska on a gold dredge for the FE mining company. He then joined the army and was stationed in Germany where he met his wife Karin. They had been married 54 years. Frank and Karin have two children, Wayne Wagner of Portland, OR and Wendy Wagner in Othello, WA.

After completing his service in the Army, Frank and Karin settled in Lewiston, ID. Frank joined the Lewiston Fire Department where he worked for several years prior to moving to Spokane, WA. Frank worked for the Spokane Valley Fire Department until he was injured and had to retire after 15 years of service in 1986. During those years Frank received his Associate’s Degree from Spokane Community College and was involved in helping boys get their merit badges for boy scouts.

Frank’s passion for life and music was apparent to everyone who knew him. Frank started playing guitar while in high school, having been taught by his father. Frank was in the rock n roll band, “The Meteors,” from 1955 to 1957. They performed at many dances, proms and on KLEW TV. This ‘hobby’ turned into a lifelong avocation for Frank. He taught young people in the Spokane area guitar, violin, bass fiddle and any stringed instrument you can think of for more than 40 years. He was involved with NW Fiddle Contest for several years and devoted much of his life promoting fiddling activities. Frank had several articles written about him in the Spokesman Review. In June of 2004, he was honored for running a free music workshop for 30 years and in 2012, Frank was inducted into the Weiser, ID, National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest Hall of Fame. He taught several students who went on to become professional musicians and was very proud of their accomplishments. Frank played for local Nursing Homes, and put on many fiddle shows at the local Elks, Eagles and VFW Clubs as part of his long life of service.

Frank was an avid hunter, fisherman and gardener. Each year he would plant both a vegetable and flower garden. Frank was generous sharing the bounty of his garden and had large jam sessions every year in his backyard.

Frank still had relatives and friends living in the Kamiah area. He made it a point to go to Kamiah each Labor Day weekend to attend their annual BBQ Day’s celebration where he would catch up on what everyone was doing.

Frank was loved and respected by everyone who knew him and will be greatly missed by the many musicians and friends in the Inland Empire. Frank leaves behind his wife Karin; his son, Wayne and his companion Jeff Stigen of Portland, OR; his daughter, Wendy Wagner of Othello, WA and a brother Jim Wagner and wife Betty of Seattle, WA.

Preceding Frank in death were his parents Lester and Margie Wagner of Lewiston, ID.

The family requests that any donations be made to Cancer Care of Spokane.

Celebration Services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 7th, 2014 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3606 S Old Schafer Rd, Spokane Valley, WA. Relatives and friends are welcome at the service and music jam following, from 3 to 5 p.m.