Funeral service for Walter "Wally" Wagemann Sr., 79, of Aberdeen will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. Pastor Tanya Rist officiating. Burial following at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with military honors by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post 24. Walter died on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at the Golden Living Center in Groton.
Visitation is from 1 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main Street, Aberdeen.
Walter "Wally" Wagemann, son of August and Martha (Heupel) Wagemann, was born on Feb. 19, 1933, 14 miles west of Forbes, N.D. He was delivered by his grandmother, Catherina Wagemann. Walter attended school in Forbes and tap danced in the first and second grades. He later attended country school west of Leola and graduated from the eighth grade. At the age of 14, he moved with his family 10 miles east of Leola. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1952 and received his honorable discharge in 1954.
Walter was united in marriage to Shirley Schlosser on July 2, 1961. They made their home at 504 N. State Street in Aberdeen. On March 16, 1967, they moved to the farm 3 miles west of Aberdeen, where he remained until July 26, 2012, when he was hospitalized. On Aug. 2, 2012, he was moved to the Golden Living Center in Groton, where he remained until the time of his death.
Over the years, Walter worked for several farmers on numerous thrashing crews. In 1959, he bought a farm bulk milk truck and began hauling milk around North and South Dakota. In 1962, Walter's brother, Dale, began helping with the milk hauling and in 1963, his other brother, Darwin, took an active role as well. In 1969, Walter and Darwin sold their shares of the business to Dale.
Walter went to work for Safe Guard Industries, Hyman Freight and Murphy Truck Lines. In 1974, he went to work fulltime for Lewis Truck Line, where he remained until 1992, when his health forced him to retire following a work-related accident. For many years, Walter also did furnace cleaning and hauled rolls of paper to the Aberdeen American News.
Walter loved to dance, especially to polkas and waltzs. In his free time, he enjoyed playing pinochle and whist. He was an avid bowler and also enjoyed deer hunting. Walter was a member of the American Legion, Moose and Eagles for many years. For 51 years, he was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. He served on the church council, trust fund committee, served as usher and was the very first van driver. Walter loved his family and cherished the time he was able to spend with them especially his grandchildren.
Grateful for having shared Walter's life are his wife, Shirley, of Aberdeen; daughter, Wanda Wagemann, Aberdeen; son, Walter (Diane) Wagemann Jr., Ashton; son, Wayne Wagemann, Billings, Mont.; son, Wade (Jennifer) Wagemann Sr., Aberdeen; one brother, Darwin (Lois) Wagemann; three granddaughters; one grandson; two stepgrandsons; two stepgreat-granddaughters; four stepgreat-grandsons; four sisters-in-law; and five brothers-in-law.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Dale and LeRoy Wagemann; sister-in-law, Joyce Schlosser; and brother-in-law, Delbert Schlosser.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Zion Lutheran Church, 1723 S Main Street, Aberdeen.
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