Celebrate David Wagner's Life: Memorial Fund

Hello, my name is Michael Wagner. I am the son of David Wagner, who tragically and unexpectedly passed away on October 27, 2024. David went into the hospital 15 days prior for flu-like symptoms and was shortly diagnosed with stage 4 B-Cell Lymphoma. The hospital staff was doing everything in their power to save my dad, David. The cancer took over his body, and he was quickly transferred to the ICU, where we were told he had a brain bleed and stroke. Due to all of this happening so fast, he was placed on life support. Our family got to say what they needed about 15 hours before life support; he was happy to see all of us and shared his love with us. While on life support, we were informed that he was very uncomfortable and struggling to be on life support. We decided to have a meeting with his doctor to discuss what our options were at this point. In that moment, the doctor said that they could continue to keep him on life support, where they would have invasive procedures to keep him alive, or move to comfort care. Our one question was if there was any treatment plan, and the doctor told us that due to his current situation, there was no treatment possible. David, our father and husband, was very specific about what his wishes were if this kind of situation happened, in which he did not want to be uncomfortable or suffer. So, as a family, we all decided to move him to comfort care. Shortly after being in comfort care, with his family holding his hands and praying over him, he passed away. David was a survivor of two Acoustic Neuroma procedures in his younger years, at the time a very complicated procedure, especially for a child. This brought a lot of complications to his life early on, things that a normal person would never have to go through. This made David a miracle walking on earth already; he had to deal with paralyzation of his right side and other things as well, but this did not stop him from taking on life and completing his dreams.

David was a loving husband and best friend to his wife, Jena Wagner. She loved him more than anything in this world. He was a loving father to myself and my significant other, Claire Collins. He was a loving father and best friend to my brother, Matthew Wagner, who loved him very, very dearly. My father was someone we could call on for anything, no matter what. Ryland Wagner, his grandson, adored his papa; they would work on things in his workshop, and he set a very good example of a grandfather for Ryland. He took care of his family members, giving anything he could to make our lives better, working graveyard shifts for many years just so he could be there for our schooling as children. Working two, maybe three jobs at a time, so he could give us all a better life. He was a best friend to so many people that could count on him for anything, from a listening ear to a hiking buddy or maybe just someone to help. He was always eager to help family and friends with whatever he could. He helped donate to a young boy from Africa who relies on him to get through school and other necessities in hopes that one day he could get a college education. David was an avid fan of basketball, baseball, and football. His favorite teams were the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Dallas Cowboys. He loved having animals, there were so many in his life that he loved and cared for. The most recent being Lucy, Sierra, Bess, Tommy, and Jerry. The newest addition that he rescued for my mom being Spirit! A beautiful Great Pyrenees that was loved very much by David. His favorite animals being Jedd, Zara, Dina, Daisy May, Duchess, Bess, Sierra, and his spirit animal Lucy Lue Lue.

David was born in Akron, Ohio, to Sunny Fletcher and Jack Williams. He came from a loving Ohio family, the Williams and Blubaughs, all of whom loved David very much, and he would visit quite frequently over the years. He later would have an adopted father, Edward Wagner, who would be his father figure for the rest of his life and help him through his first major Acoustic Neuroma. Edward would later marry Marlyn Wagner, who is loved very dearly by David and our family. Sunny Fletcher was his mother and beloved for many years to come by all of us. The kind of grandma you wish for in your dreams. She would later marry Danny Fletcher, who was also an example of a wonderful grandfather and father. David Andrew Wagner was someone who many looked up to and loved very dearly by so many people in his life. We appreciate anything contributed to his celebration of life and memorial services and give our most beloved condolences to anyone that is grieving his life currently. There will be a mass held for David at Our Lady of the Lake, our local Catholic Church. Also, a celebration of life at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa.