Lavern Wagner

Lavern Wagner, 99, of Menno, passed away Monday at the Freeman Regional Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 10:30AM Saturday, October 18th at the Salem Reformed Church of Menno. Visitation will begin at 9:30AM, Saturday, at the church prior to the service. Burial will be in the Menno City Cemetery.

Lavern Wagner was born on August 18, 1926 to Gottlieb and Lydia (Maas) Wagner on a farm southeast of Menno, South Dakota. Lavern, age 99 years, passed away October 13, 2025 at the Freeman Regional Nursing Home.

Lavern was baptized in 1927 by Pastor Denheimer. He was confirmed in 1938 by Pastor Elgin Boegler at Zion Evangelical Church.

In 1945, Lavern was drafted into the Army and did his basic training in Amorello, Texas. He was in Japan until 1947, when he came home to help on the farm.

Lavern married Phoebe Walter on Sunday, September 28, 1947 at the Freeman Gym with 250 guests attending a double wedding. Phoebe’s brother, Jacob, married Lavern’s twin sister, Belva.

Lavern and Phoebe started farming southeast of Menno in 1947. In 1987, they moved to Menno and started a trucking business. Lavern was known to many as LD.

Lavern and Phoebe were members of Zion EUB Church, rural Menno, and when it closed they attended the Olivet United Methodist Church. In 2006, they became members of the Salem Reformed Church in Menno.

Lavern is survived by his three children: Sandy (Jim) McNamara, Carla (Randy) Deters, and Lonnie; three grandchildren: Jennah (Brandon), Tyler (Michelle), and Todd (Amber); and three great-grandchildren: Jett, Tucker, and Owen; and very special friends John, Anna Decker and family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Phoebe; his parents Gottlieb and Lydia; brothers: Robert, Emil, and Elmer; sisters: Lea, Lille, and Belva.

In lieu of flowers please make your memorial to the Freeman Nursing Home, Menno Care Center, or Salem Reformed Church Memorial Fund.