OTIS — Raymond O. Wagner, 89, died Jan. 14 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation in Great Bend. He was born May 29, 1923 in rural Otis, the son of Samuel and Mollie (Adolph) Wagner.
A lifelong Otis resident, Raymond graduated from Otis High School. He served in the United States Army during World War II. After honorable discharge from the Army, Raymond came back to the family farm to begin his farming career. On Aug. 15, 1948 Raymond married Viola Wegele at Otis. In 2010 Raymond and Viola moved to Great Bend.
Raymond was a lifelong member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Otis, lifetime member of the Otis Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9137, Hoisington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7428 joining in 2008. He served on the Coop Board in Bison and Galatia, Rural School Board, Township Board and the Rush County Fair Board. He enjoyed coin collecting, collecting toy tractors and implements and building grandfather clocks.
Survivors include his wife Viola Wagner of the home; two sons, Dale Wagner and wife Marta of Littleton, Colo. and Larry Wagner and wife Charlotte of Hutchinson; one brother Harold Wagner of Otis; one sister Arlene Maier of Oakley; seven grandchildren, Chris Wagner, Ryan Wagner, Shane Wagner, Jeremy Wagner, Amy Wagner, Brett Wagner, Brad Wagner; and five great-grandchildren, Kaleb Wagner, Anya Wagner, Henry Wagner, Cohen Wagner and Avery Wagner. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Paul Wagner and Norman Wagner; and one sister Elsie Boxberger.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Otis with the Reverend Bruce Adamson officiating. Burial will follow at Otis Lutheran Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, with a prayer service beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Fair Board or Rush County Food Bank in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home**
PO Box 146
Hoisington, Ks. 67544
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Jan. 15, 2013