Joseph Anton Wagner

Joseph Wagner of Medicine Hat, beloved husband of the late Erma (Heck), passed away peacefully on September 15, 2022 after a brief battle with cancer.  Joe was born on the family farm near Lemsford, Saskatchewan, June 16th, 1932. He was an industrious young boy who loved horses, hunting and athletics.  It was at a sports day that he met Erma and they would share almost 64 years before her passing in 2019.  They farmed together in Liebenthal, Saskatchewan  where they raised their family, a menagerie of livestock, an orchard, a garden and some hard earned acres.  Over the years,  Joe became a vital and beloved member of each community he joined.  In Liebenthal, he umped and coached ball, painted houses, and was the pest control officer, known as “The Rat Man”. When they retired in 1998, moving to Medicine Hat, Joe busied himself at Park Meadows on various committees and entertaining in their home. The winters found Joe and Erma in Mesa, Arizona where Joe enjoyed wood-working, being the park’s “Mr. Fix-It”, gatherings with friends, and venturing out for further travels. In 2020, he joined the Meadowlands community and once again was embraced as a kind, generous member, involving himself in teaching bridge, going to exercises, playing cards and charming the staff. Family and faith were always at the core of everything Joe did. He attended mass weekly and became a District Grand Knight. Left to cherish Joe’s memory are his children Blaine, Michelle (Paul Sehn), Blair (Kimberly), son-in-law Jerry Deitrich, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, his sisters Betty Scherger and Clare Blore, his brothers Raymond Wagner and Pius Wagner  as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  Joe was predeceased by his parents Lukas and Philomena, his infant son Dwayne, wife Erma, daughter Colleen Deitrich, sisters Katherine Schmidt and Lorraine Ries, and  brother Tony Wagner. Family and friends will gather for prayers in the PATTISON CHAPEL on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.  The funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Parish, (1451 Strachan Road S.E.)  on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Naveed Arif  Celebrant.   The funeral mass will be live streamed for family and friends who are unable to attend, you are invited to watch on www.youtube.com/Medicine Hat Holy Family Church or follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6zK-XzuXdDHj79rV6ut_Q.  To leave a message of condolence you may visit www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.    A private interment will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are kindly accepted to  the Canadian Cancer Society (cancer.ca) or to Parkinson’s Research (www.parkinson.ca).  

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