Kenneth Wagner

Kenneth Wagner, 93, of Jackson passed away Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 12, 1915, in Jackson, son of Harry and Florentine Wolgast Wagner. He and Theresa Meinz were married April 19, 1941. She passed away May 23, 1989. He then married Dorothy Pohlmann Meyer.

Kenny graduated from Jackson High School in 1933 and attended business school in St. Louis.

He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 7, 1942, to Oct. 5, 1943. He was a military police escort guard at the prisoner-of-war camp in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

After the service he joined his father and brother in the family business, Wagner Machine and Welding Shop in Jackson, retiring in 1985.

In his early manhood he attended Emanuel United Church of Christ. When he and his wife, Dorothy, were married, he attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Kenny volunteered at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau for the past 15 years and was a member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson and VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include his wife; two sons and daughters-in-law, Keith and Mary Wagner of Olive Branch, Miss., Kim and Wanda Wagner of Cordova, Tenn.; two stepsons, Mike Meyer of Long Beach, Fla., Robert (Lori) Meyer of Jackson; three grandchildren, Kyle Wagner, Christy Pelezo, Kacy Wagner; a great-grandson, Alec Pelezo; five stepgrandchildren, Chris Meyer, Robert Meyer, James Meyer, Samantha Jaco and Olivia Jaco.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Roland Wagner; a sister, Jeanette Wagner; and a stepdaughter, JoAnn Jaco.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. An American Legion service will be held at 7.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.