Memorials › Kermit Lee Wagner

Kermit Lee Wagner

4 Oct 1932 – 5 Jun 2015

Birth4 Oct 1932
Death5 Jun 2015
CemeteryBelvidere Cemetery
Turin , Monona County , Iowa , USA
Added byMargaret A Hall on 04 Aug 2020
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183482756

Bio

KERMIT LEE WAGNER October 4, 1932 – June 5, 2015 Born and raised on the Wagner family farm in Woods Hollow, Turin, Iowa, Kermit from childhood showed his intelligence, independent spirit and self-ability by being the “little man” of the family. His life was ever evolving from its very early, humble beginnings to a life of international adventure. Schooling began in a rural one-room school, Hiawatha Elementary (8 students), where his eagerness and ability to learn was recognized by his teacher and he was “skipped” two grades! He later attended Castana and Turin Elementary School. Graduated Onawa High School, Onawa, IA 1950, where he excelled in scholastics, music and athletics. Member of the Iowa National Guard, served in Germany (Korean War) where he showed exemplary capabilities of leadership, serving as the youngest leader ever, at 19, of the Guard and of his unit. Received a BA in History, Political Science and Literature at Iowa State University 1956. On a full scholarship, received a Master's Degree, International Affairs, Columbia University, New York City, 1957. Was a Fortune 500 Corporate Executive (IBM). CFO/Farm Manager, Pacific Coast Farms, Soil and Nutrition Plan Review Specialist. 35 year citrus/kiwi farmer in Lindsay, Tulare County, CA. Retired 2004. International traveler- 20-25 countries. Avid and intrepid skier, Nationally and Internationally: Nickname “Suicide Sam”. President, Far West Ski Association. Solo aviator. Skilled sailer. International mountaineer-scaled 7 peaks over 14,000 ft. International scuba diver and lover of all things marine. Africa/Canada Great Game Hunter. Oenophile: wine historian and connoisseur. Voracious reader on a vast range of subjects, but particularly the history of our Nation, Political Science, Anthropology and Archaeology. Aficionado of poetry, English and American Literature and Shakespeare. Talented guitar player and singer of folk ballads. Highly entertaining raconteur of his life adventures. Descent of Mayflower Pilgrim, Nancy Lloyd, and Wampanoag Indian Chief Massasoit, who presided at the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock – 1620. Descendant of Thomas Stanton who came to the colonies in 1635 and became the Interpreter General of the United Colonies of New England to the local Indians, settler of Hartford, CT and co-founder of Stonington, CT where his home, built in 1670, has become the Stanton-Davis Homestead Museum. Through his Stanton heritage, related to George Washington. Member, Sons of the American Revolution. Great grandson of Lawson Jay Stanton, Civil War Veteran and Special Security Guard to Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. In his diary, Stanton noted the “Lincoln was so tall, when he spread his arms, I could stand under them.” Grandson of Hans and Emma Stanton Wagner (deceased); son of John Henry and Louise (Mortensen) Wagner (deceased); devoted husband of Catharine (Capers); Father of son John Eric Wagner (Bridget) and Granddaughter Cleo; Daughter, Claire Wagner (Greg Ashley) and Granddaughter Lucie and Grandson Lawrence: Stepfather of sons Parker (Judy) Fairfield and Grandsons Kyle and Parker Jr., and Dered (Maria) Fairfield and Granddaughter Courtney and Grandson Jack; brother to Emma Lou Stanislav (deceased) Kenneth Wagner (deceased) and Esther Kenyon; Nephew, Leon Stanislav; Nieces, Eva Powell, Eileen Stanislav, Karen McCants and Christy Stanley; Grandnieces and Grandnephew and a number of first cousins. Survived also by countless friends Kermit was believed for his joie de vivre, sense of bonhomie, and camaraderie. Kermit possessed a superior intelligence, a poet's soul, boundless energy for life and adventure, and talking. He had a vast vocabulary with a love for verbal sparring, a skill he perfected with friends and family espousing any ideas and “theories” for everything. His volume of facts was impressive, which he could pull out at any moment, often surprising and stupefying those around him. He was a true skeptic and challenged conventions and conventional wisdom. He truly forged his own path and “dug his teeth” into life with gusto. He was a first class businessman, hard worker in the soil as well as in the board room, confident, unshakable in his work ethics and beliefs. An original “tool and DIY” guy, his Yankee ingenuity found no project too large or too small. He took delight in finding ingenious ways to solve any problem (he had 25 screwdrivers and he needed every one of them). His brilliant and joyous smile lit up every room he entered and always enriched the lives of those upon whom it shone. He sought not fame nor fortune, yet in his way he had it all: financial security, adventure, friendships of long years' standing, laughter with all, and above all a deep love for his family, who loved him deeply in return. Kermit's ashes were embraced by the warm fertile soil of Iowa which he loved, during a memorial service on Friday, June 26, Belvedere Cemetery, Turin, Iowa, interred in the Wagner Family grave site. A private family gathering consecrated his remaining ashes in the Loess Hills near Lookout Point, Preparation Park, Moorhead, Iowa. Kermit passed away under hospice care in Branford, CT at 5:00 in the morning, just as the sun was rising. So befitting, Kermit loved getting up “at the crack of dawn”, for it meant a new day, a new beginning, and a new adventure lay ahead! Kermit's requested Epitaph: “I never had a focused end result of my life, but I had a helluva great time getting there!” Ave atque vale (Hail and Farewell) – Requiescat in pace (Rest in Peace)

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