Emil Wagner
July 8, 1906 ~ December 31, 2010
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Emil Wagner, 104, of Miller, died Friday, December 31 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the First United Methodist Church in Miller. Interment will be at G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller.
Emil Wagner, of Miller, South Dakota, was born on Monday July 8, 1906 to Gottlieb and Lydia on the family farm located in Molan, South Dakota. Emils father was a farmer and his mother, Lydia, was a rural mail carrier. Emil and his twin brother, Robert, went on the mail routes with their mother. With a buggy, a black horse and Lydia at the reins, Emil and Robert were wrapped in a black horse blanket and placed in the black wooden box in the open air buggy. At the halfway point of the route, Lydia would stop at a friends house to feed the twins. Ribbons around their wrists were utilized for easy identification. The friend would heat rocks in the oven and they were placed in the box with the twins to provide warmth.
Emil and Robert attended a rural school near the family farm until third grade when their services were needed at the family farm. However, dont mess with Emils arithmetic skills; he was always sharp.
Emil married Elsie Ulmer in Menno, South Dakota. Emil and Elsie were blessed with 2 children, Lucille and Donald. In 1935, Emil bought his first tractor the Iron Horse, a F-20 International on rubber. The tractor attracted many visits from the neighbors. In 1938, Emil received his state trucking license and began hauling livestock and grain. Elsie was his relief driver.
In 1944, Emil bought the family farm, the 960 acre Harold Spinner farm five and one-half miles northwest of Miller South Dakota. Emil paid $20.00 per acre. The farm is now operated by Brady Van Zee.
Emils hobbies included new vehicles and cruising, and watching his friends and their operations. One of his greatest amusements was observing the new technology of farming. He saw the two-row corn planter advance to a 24 row planter. Emil loved his toys. He bought his last combine at the age of 87 and ran it for several years before he retired.
Emil and Elise loved to travel and visited many places over the years. However, the highlight of their travels was their trip to the Holy Land where they spent several weeks.
Emil and Elsie moved into town and built their house in 1961. (Emil lived in his home until he was 97). By the winter of 1971, Emil and Elsie were spending their winters in their Airstream in Florida. They enjoyed many years in Florida and eventually moved their winter residency to Mesa, Arizona. Emil and Elsie built 2 houses in Mesa, Arizona and they continued to winter in Arizona until Elsies death in 1994.
Emil will be remembered by his family and friends as many things. First, as an extremely generous man, always giving to others that were in need. As a wonderful family man, always loving and caring for his family. Emil was devastated with the loss of his son and grandson. Finally, as a loyal friend, always willing to listen and help others.
Emil will be greatly missed by his surviving relatives which include his daughter Lucille (Milbert) Roduner, 2 grandchildren , Pat Waring(Robert) of Mesa, Arizona and June (Michael) VanZee of Mesa, Arizona/Miller, South Dakota), 4 great grandchildren Tammy Waring, Casa Grande, Arizona, Nicole (Jeff) Gould, Hermosa Beach, California, Brady VanZee, Miller, South Dakota, and Jessica VanZee Mesa, Arizona, 2 great-great grandchildren Keely Peyton Gould and Landen Robert Gould, Hermosa Beach California, daughter-in-law Ellen Kay Wagner, Miller, SD/Mesa, AZ, 3 sisters, Leah (Chris) Guthmiller, Yankton, SD, Lilly (Gilbert) Kirschenman, Yankton, SD and Belva Jean (Jacob) Walters, St Lawrence, SD and 1 brothers LaVerne (Phoebe) Wagner and many nieces and nephews.
Emil was preceded in death by his parents (Gottlieb and Lydia Wagner, his wife Elsie Wagner, 2 brothers (Robert and Elmer Wagner), his son Donald Wagner, grandson Lynn Wagner, son-in-law Milbert Roduner and grand son-in-law Robert Waring.
Emil Wagner, of Miller, South Dakota, was born on Monday July 8, 1906 to Gottlieb and Lydia on the family farm located in Molan, South Dakota. Emils father was a farmer and his mother, Lydia, was a rural mail carrier. Emil and his twin brother, Robert, went on the mail routes with their mother. With a buggy, a black horse and Lydia at the reins, Emil and Robert were wrapped in a black horse blanket and placed in the black wooden box in the open air buggy. At the halfway point of the route, Lydia would stop at a friends house to feed the twins. Ribbons around their wrists were utilized for easy identification. The friend would heat rocks in the oven and they were placed in the box with the twins to provide warmth.
Emil and Robert attended a rural school near the family farm until third grade when their services were needed at the family farm. However, dont mess with Emils arithmetic skills; he was always sharp.
Emil married Elsie Ulmer in Menno, South Dakota. Emil and Elsie were blessed with 2 children, Lucille and Donald. In 1935, Emil bought his first tractor the Iron Horse, a F-20 International on rubber. The tractor attracted many visits from the neighbors. In 1938, Emil received his state trucking license and began hauling livestock and grain. Elsie was his relief driver.
In 1944, Emil bought the family farm, the 960 acre Harold Spinner farm five and one-half miles northwest of Miller South Dakota. Emil paid $20.00 per acre. The farm is now operated by Brady Van Zee.
Emils hobbies included new vehicles and cruising, and watching his friends and their operations. One of his greatest amusements was observing the new technology of farming. He saw the two-row corn planter advance to a 24 row planter. Emil loved his toys. He bought his last combine at the age of 87 and ran it for several years before he retired.
Emil and Elise loved to travel and visited many places over the years. However, the highlight of their travels was their trip to the Holy Land where they spent several weeks.
Emil and Elsie moved into town and built their house in 1961. (Emil lived in his home until he was 97). By the winter of 1971, Emil and Elsie were spending their winters in their Airstream in Florida. They enjoyed many years in Florida and eventually moved their winter residency to Mesa, Arizona. Emil and Elsie built 2 houses in Mesa, Arizona and they continued to winter in Arizona until Elsies death in 1994.
Emil will be remembered by his family and friends as many things. First, as an extremely generous man, always giving to others that were in need. As a wonderful family man, always loving and caring for his family. Emil was devastated with the loss of his son and grandson. Finally, as a loyal friend, always willing to listen and help others.
Emil will be greatly missed by his surviving relatives which include his daughter Lucille (Milbert) Roduner, 2 grandchildren , Pat Waring(Robert) of Mesa, Arizona and June (Michael) VanZee of Mesa, Arizona/Miller, South Dakota), 4 great grandchildren Tammy Waring, Casa Grande, Arizona, Nicole (Jeff) Gould, Hermosa Beach, California, Brady VanZee, Miller, South Dakota, and Jessica VanZee Mesa, Arizona, 2 great-great grandchildren Keely Peyton Gould and Landen Robert Gould, Hermosa Beach California, daughter-in-law Ellen Kay Wagner, Miller, SD/Mesa, AZ, 3 sisters, Leah (Chris) Guthmiller, Yankton, SD, Lilly (Gilbert) Kirschenman, Yankton, SD and Belva Jean (Jacob) Walters, St Lawrence, SD and 1 brothers LaVerne (Phoebe) Wagner and many nieces and nephews.
Emil was preceded in death by his parents (Gottlieb and Lydia Wagner, his wife Elsie Wagner, 2 brothers (Robert and Elmer Wagner), his son Donald Wagner, grandson Lynn Wagner, son-in-law Milbert Roduner and grand son-in-law Robert Waring.
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