Sept. 19, 1926 – April 02, 2019

John Emery (Jack) Wagner, 92, passed away peacefully on April 2 at his home in Rancho Santa Margarita following a brief illness. In the preceding days, he was surrounded by many well-wishers and members of his large family.

Jack was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Sept. 19, 1926 to John Francis Wagner and Estelle Genevieve Wagner (née Walsh). Jack was an only child. Even though his parents showered him with love and affection, Jack lamented not having a larger family with brothers and sisters as playmates.

Jack attended Mason City High School and was involved in many extra-curricular activities. After the United States entered World War II, Jack was selected for the V-12 Navy College Training Program. He graduated high school in 1944 and entered the Navy while, at the same time, attending Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Jack was the first in his family to attend college. 

At Iowa State, he studied engineering and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Upon graduation from Iowa State, Jack received his commission as a lieutenant JG. He was immediately assigned to active duty, serving on both the USS Midway and the USS Iowa.

Jack fulfilled his active duty commitment to the Navy and, with the help of the GI bill, attended the University of Iowa School of Law. He continued to serve in the Navy reserves, assigned to Naval Intelligence. While attending law school, Jack met Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Thompson and they fell in love. After being awarded their respective degrees, Jack and Betty were married on Sept. 10, 1951 at All Saints Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The couple immediately moved to the East Coast where Jack had accepted a position as a patent attorney at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey.

In 1959, the West Coast’s nearly perfect weather, its growing technology sector, and its unparalleled system of colleges and universities lured Jack and family to Southern California, where he accepted a position as patent counsel at Bendix Corporation. Five more children followed, bringing the total number to 11 – six girls and five boys. The large family eventually settled in Glendale.

Besides working as a patent lawyer, Jack filled his life with many other interests and passions – both professional and personal. For 10 years he taught business law at UCLA in the engineering executive program. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and served as the president of the Verdugo Hills Council in Glendale. He was later honored by the Verdugo Hills Council with its lifetime achievement award – the Silver Beaver.

Jack is survived by 10 children: John Patrick Wagner (Debra), Theresa Ann Middlebrook (James), Nancy Walsh Baker (Dennis), James Thompson Wagner (Joan), Mary Ellen Blakey (Christopher), William Joseph Wagner (Denise), Barbara Marie McAndrews (Thomas), Margaret Mary Lee Stratford (Kenneth), Christopher Robert Wagner (Gary) and Dorothy Elizabeth O’Donnell (Sean) in addition to two AFS daughters (Juliette and Maria). Jack is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Betty, Jack’s loving wife of 66 years, and their special son Thomas Edward Wagner.

Services will be held on Friday, April 12 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1600 Corporate Dr. in Ladera Ranch, California. A rosary and brief visitation will commence at 9:30 a.m. followed immediately by a funeral Mass. A reception in Huntington Beach will be held afterwards.  The family will hold a private interment.