Jay Owen Wagner, 77, passed away on September 21, 2023 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born June 10, 1946 in Emporia, Kansas to John O. and Margaret (Sattler) Wagner.
In 1963, the family moved to Lawrence when his mother’s job with Hallmark Cards was relocated. Due to being only one year away from graduating, Jay stayed behind and lived with his grandparents his senior year. He graduated from Emporia High School in 1964. After graduation he joined his family in Lawrence. There he worked for Hallmark Cards and attended KU until he was drafted in to the Army serving one year in Vietnam.
Jay married his wife, Betty Curl on May 28, 1971. His job took them to the Chicago suburb of Wheeling, Illinois, where their first son Christopher was born. After a year, they returned to Lawrence where their sons Erick and Dustin were born. Lawrence became home for the rest of his life.
Jay was employed by E&E Specialties as a building manager until it closed in 2004. He then joined his son Dustin in farming on his wife’s family farm in Jefferson County. With the help of his sons he raised corn, soybeans, and his favorite; cattle. Other than the farm, he enjoyed watching KU sports and the Kansas City Chiefs. One time refusing to go to the hospital because the Chiefs were on TV. He had his priorities!
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Linda Jones and Dale Ann Fabriz, brother Johnny Wagner and brother-in-law Eugene Curl.
He is survived by his wife Betty and sons Chris (Brooke Raasch), Erick and Dustin Wagner of Lawrence, brother and sister-in-law Paul and Mary (Curl) Runyon, Raleigh, North Carolina, and many nieces and nephews, and their children.
No services were requested. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
Donations may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in memory of Jay, a two time cancer survivor, and as a gratitude for the care his great nephew, Tucker Wagner, has received there.
