Obituary of William P. Wagner

William P. “Bill” Wagner, age 71 of Iowa City died Friday, April 5, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service with burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City where military honors will be provided.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Monday at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in his memory.  To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Bill was born May 3, 1947, in Osage, Iowa the son of Joseph and Ethel Wagner.  His family moved to Iowa City in his youth where he graduated from City High School with the class of 1967.  Two weeks before his high school graduation, he married his wife of 51 years Muriel Jones. Bill joined the Air Force shortly after graduation and did a tour of duty in Colorado Springs, CO where his two daughters, Terri Lynn and Laura were born at the Air Force Academy Hospital. With his family they moved back to Iowa City in 1971 where he worked for the former Eicher Florist then Robinson Furniture before starting at HyVee from where he retired.

Aside from his family and working, Bill enjoyed bowling, ping pong and going to the casino.  He loved classical country music, watching Laurel & Hardy, and the Three Stooges.  Many will remember Bill for his dancing something he simply enjoyed.  He was also known to like card games, especially 99 Rummy and 31. Bill had time to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes football, basketball and wrestling teams. But nothing compared to the love this man had for his family and friends.

His family includes his wife, Muriel (Jones) of the house; his two daughters, Terri Lynn Stecklein (Scott) of Coralville and Laura Wagner of the house; granddaughter, Autumn Wagner (Scott Schultz) of Muscatine, siblings, Shirley Mayfield of Iowa City, Nancy Mendoza of Iowa City, Mick Wagner (Deb) of Selina, KS, Mary Ann Davis (Doug) of Riverside, Richard Wagner (Janet) of Castleberry, FL, Joanne Klein (Michael) of Watertown, and Sharon Gilkerson of Panama Beach, FL, he is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Ethel Wagner and 2 brothers-in-law, Jose Mendoza and Scott Gilkerson.