Elmer Wageman
October 2, 1924 — February 3, 2017
Elmer Raymond Wageman, son of Edward and Magdalena (Klein) Wageman was born October 2, 1924 near Defiance, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, where he remained a lifetime member. He attended country school through the 8th grade, when he quit to help his father on the family farm.
On April 26, 1949, Elmer was united in marriage to Theresa Langenfeld, daughter of George and Anna (Schmitz) Langenfeld at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. Four children were born to this union: Don, Linda, Rose and Kathleen. After their marriage, they lived northwest of Defiance on his family farm. Elmer worked beside his brother Henry on the farm. He had a neighborhood shop, where everyone came to get a nut, bolt, something welded or maybe a tire fixed. He made many inventions in his shop and would send them into Wallace Farm Magazine to win a free subscription, he was still waiting to hear back from them.
In 1973 at the age of 47, Elmer was forced to retired due to health reasons. He and Theresa built a home in Defiance, they loved playing cards and having house parties, you could find Elmer enjoying a glass of scotch and water with no ice. Theresa passed in 1981.
In 1982, Elmer married Margaret “Boots” McDonald. They loved to dance and gamble. They made over 30 trips to Las Vegas over their years together. In later years he loved to cook making sauerkraut among other things and loved to bake.
Elmer was friendly to all, he was known for always dressing nice, wearing cowboy hats and handing out silver dollars. He loved life and everyone he met. The town kids knew him as the candy man.
In 2013, Elmer moved to Elm Crest Retirement in Harlan, Iowa and there he resided until his death. Elmer died on Friday, February 3, 2017 surrounded by his loving family at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa attaining the age of ninety-two years, four months and one day. Including his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Theresa, wife “Boots”, sisters: Kathryn Sonderman, Verdilla Bertelsen, Josephine Marshall, Leona Buman, Rose McCollum and Ann Wetherby, brothers Henry and George Wageman.
He is survived by his children Don Wageman and his wife Rose of Earling, Iowa; Linda and her husband Ken Bruck of Harlan, Iowa; Rose and her husband Matt Koesters of Harlan, Iowa; Kathleen and her husband Kenny McCown of Lincoln, Nebraska; stepchildren Gary McDonald and his wife Chris of Lakeview, Iowa; Larry McDonald of Denison, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; brother Edward Wageman and his wife Mona of Alamo, Texas; sisters-in-law Helen Siemers of Dow City, Iowa; Dee Coenen of Woodward, Iowa; Betty and her husband Carroll Cox of Council Bluffs, Iowa; brother-in-law Greg Langenfeld of Dunlap, Iowa; special nephew Jack Wageman of Apple Valley, MN; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
On April 26, 1949, Elmer was united in marriage to Theresa Langenfeld, daughter of George and Anna (Schmitz) Langenfeld at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. Four children were born to this union: Don, Linda, Rose and Kathleen. After their marriage, they lived northwest of Defiance on his family farm. Elmer worked beside his brother Henry on the farm. He had a neighborhood shop, where everyone came to get a nut, bolt, something welded or maybe a tire fixed. He made many inventions in his shop and would send them into Wallace Farm Magazine to win a free subscription, he was still waiting to hear back from them.
In 1973 at the age of 47, Elmer was forced to retired due to health reasons. He and Theresa built a home in Defiance, they loved playing cards and having house parties, you could find Elmer enjoying a glass of scotch and water with no ice. Theresa passed in 1981.
In 1982, Elmer married Margaret “Boots” McDonald. They loved to dance and gamble. They made over 30 trips to Las Vegas over their years together. In later years he loved to cook making sauerkraut among other things and loved to bake.
Elmer was friendly to all, he was known for always dressing nice, wearing cowboy hats and handing out silver dollars. He loved life and everyone he met. The town kids knew him as the candy man.
In 2013, Elmer moved to Elm Crest Retirement in Harlan, Iowa and there he resided until his death. Elmer died on Friday, February 3, 2017 surrounded by his loving family at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa attaining the age of ninety-two years, four months and one day. Including his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Theresa, wife “Boots”, sisters: Kathryn Sonderman, Verdilla Bertelsen, Josephine Marshall, Leona Buman, Rose McCollum and Ann Wetherby, brothers Henry and George Wageman.
He is survived by his children Don Wageman and his wife Rose of Earling, Iowa; Linda and her husband Ken Bruck of Harlan, Iowa; Rose and her husband Matt Koesters of Harlan, Iowa; Kathleen and her husband Kenny McCown of Lincoln, Nebraska; stepchildren Gary McDonald and his wife Chris of Lakeview, Iowa; Larry McDonald of Denison, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; brother Edward Wageman and his wife Mona of Alamo, Texas; sisters-in-law Helen Siemers of Dow City, Iowa; Dee Coenen of Woodward, Iowa; Betty and her husband Carroll Cox of Council Bluffs, Iowa; brother-in-law Greg Langenfeld of Dunlap, Iowa; special nephew Jack Wageman of Apple Valley, MN; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
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