Our obituaries page allows for you to light a candle for a loved one or leave a guest comment. You are able to search for obituaries by first and last name or by the date of death.

Dale William Wagner

February 9, 1938 - March 6, 2017

Dale William Wagner died at Trinity Center on March 6, after years of battling Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born on February 9, 1938 at Burlington, IA, the son of Homer Dodge and Mildred Eunice (Helton) Wagner. He graduated from ISU with a degree in Agriculture in 1961. He joined International Voluntary Service (IVS) and served 2 years in Vietnam teaching the Hmong and other hill people how to improve their ag practices.
Dale married Ruth Davidson in 1967. Family was his number one priority. He was a great supporter of his family’s activities through school, college, and their careers. He enjoyed his grandson, Evan, and welcomed Bryan Johnson as Janet’s husband. He also enjoyed having dogs, especially the giant breeds, a Newfoundland and a Great Pyrenees.
He completed a Master’s Degree in Student Services and Counseling, and worked at DMACC as Director of Student Activities and then a Student Career Counselor. He was an active member of ICCSSA (Iowa Community College Student Services Assoc.) He retired from full time at DMACC in 2000. In 2001, he began part time jobs in the Counseling Department, and was Department Coordinator and Adjunct Counselor for the Business and Technology Department until 2010. He was active in the Pioneers retiree group at DMACC and received the Pioneer of the Year award in 2010.
Dale was an active member of the Ankeny Presbyterian Church and was an ordained Elder. He was the Scout Master of Troop 88, served on the Polk County Extension Board, and one of the original drivers of the Ankeny Marching Hawk Band Trailer.
He had many hobbies and interests, including gardening, small motor repair, video and still photography, and wine making. He was known for his wood carving of Santas, creating and giving many as gifts for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ruth; children, Janet (Bryan) Johnson, and Eric Wagner; grandson, Evan Wagner; sisters, Doris Nelson, Doreen (Mark) Stolze, and Donna (Tom) Woehrle; brother-in-law Robert (Mary) Davidson and 16 nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given for the DMACC Foundation (memo: Pioneer’s Scholarship), Ankeny Presbyterian Church, or Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Iowa.