Joseph Bernard Wagner

Joseph was born in Lawrence, Indiana on August 16, 1943. He graduated from Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in 1963 from which he received a H.S. diploma and two years of junior college. He graduated from Marian University (College) in 1965 with a degree in history and a minor in Latin and political science.

Following this, he married Sarah Myers, whom he met in college. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended OCS and then was assigned to Korea to Missile Battalion (2nd of the 42nd) as an Honest John firing platoon leader. From there, he was assigned to Germany where he was a Battery Commander in an Eight Inch Artillery Battalion. He was in Vietnam as an intelligence officer with liaison to the South Korean and South Vietnam armies. Joe was responsible for the collecting and analyzing the intelligence of five provinces. He then returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and commanded a missile training battery for 18 months. He returned to Germany and served for another four years. Military decorations include a Bronze Star, Army Commendation medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.

Following his military service, Joe worked in food service management. He managed a catering operation where he fed President Gerald Ford and President George W. Bush, numerous U.S. Senators and Congressmen. After leaving the food service, he became owner/operator of his own custom furniture and cabinet woodworking business. In his later years, he was an avid vintage gun and U.S. stamp collector.

Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sarah; daughters Christine Marie (Rick) Gregory and Constance Elaine (Jeff) VanDerBoon; grandchildren Crystal Skye (Cody) Schmidt and Dakota James Gregory; and great-grandchildren Mackenzie and Reid Schmidt.

The family requests that a random act of kindness be given to someone of your choosing in Joe’s memory. And when our work is done, our course on earth is run, may it be said, “well done, be thou at peace.”

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Monday, November 25, 2024 at Cook Funeral Home in Byron Center, 2067 84th St. SW, Byron Center, Michigan. A Funeral Mass for Joe will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 9408 Wilson Ave. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315, with an hour of visitation prior to Mass. The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresbyron.com in their guestbook online.