Ellen Marie Vagner died August 9, from cancer. Ellen was born on July 2, 1958, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Paul and Katherine Vagner. She was the youngest of three children. Her family moved to Bonner Springs in 1963. She attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, graduating as a co-valedictorian in 1972. She graduated in 1976 from Bonner Springs High School as the salutatorian.
Hers was a family of musicians. She grew up believing that playing an instrument was a basic life skill. She played the piano well, and loved to play the doumbek drum, as well as other miscellaneous forms of percussion. Ellen attended The University of Kansas from 1976 to 1978, and then again from 1981 to 1983, as an honors student. She worked in the dorm’s cafeteria, and most of her paid work was in the food service industry.
She never married or had children. She was raised in the Roman Catholic church, but after 20 years of being unchurched, a health crisis let her to the Episcopal Church. She found a home
Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence, Ks, and officially converted in 2007. “It was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
In high School, Ellen started taking belly dancing classes. These proved to be very therapeutic in many ways, including the exercise, music, creating costumes, and expanding her social circle.
Her work in belly dancing spurred a desire to work as Respiratory Therapist. She did not achieve that goal, but did continue to excel in belly dancing. She joined a group in Lawrence,
and performed in several Cairo on the Kaw programs. She made many friends through her belly dancing, and remained friends with them even after she could no longer dance. She loved to create costumes and sew. She created many of the costumes for her belly dancing performances, and continued to create after her belly dancing days were over. She loved to fashion costumes for the church Christmas Eve pageant, and loved to create elaborate costumes for All Saints Day. She was always planning her next saint costume!
After joining the Episcopal Church, Ellen worked in the Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry. She loved her work as a greeter at the pantry, helping people sign in making sure they got what they
needed. She did this work for 16 years, getting to know many of the people who would visit the pantry, and making friends with the other volunteers.
Languages were another passion for Ellen. At one time she was fluent in French, receiving an award from KU’s French department in 1983. She would dabble in other languages, including
Italian, Spanish, Arabic, and a couple of Scandinavian languages. Ellen leaves behind her sister-in-law, Elaine Vagner, and several nieces. She was predeceased by her parents, Paul and Katherine, her brother Joseph, her sister Clara, and an infant nephew and niece.
Ellen loved flowers and music. Flowers can be sent to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Donations can be made to Trinity Interfaith Food pantry or the Women’s Shelter in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Memorial Services will be 1:oo P.M. Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Trinity Episcopal Church at 1011 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Ellen was a cousin of mine that I found with research through Ancestry. We corresponded quite often. May God Bless her in her new life. Wish we could have met in person, I’m grateful that we were able to speak. Rest Well Dear Cousin. John Desselle.
My condolences to the family. Ellen was a kind and creative soul who loved volunteering, helping others, and recycling and re-purposing things. Praying for the family’s strength and healing.
Ellen’s one of my first acquaintances at Trinity when I moved here 7 years ago and we often enjoyed conversations about her fascinating life. I was always glad to see her on Sundays in her regular spot. I will miss her!
Ellen was a committed and impressive volunteer during her 16 years with Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry. Her responsibilities were specific to greeting each person coming for food assistance and helping them sign-in to the pantry. She had a great combination of being most pleasant, fun, and helpful to each person along with her accuracy in completing the sign-in process which was an important need for the operation and reporting process for the pantry. Significantly, Ellen made an easy transition when the pantry moved from using paper records for the sign-in process to a computer based sign-in procedure. The volunteers will miss her consistency, kindness, and presence at Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry.
I will miss Ellen’s faithful and caring presence at Trinity. We first met back in our belledi dancing days, & I am happy she became an integral part of the Trinity Episcopal Church family. Am sure she will be missed there by many!