Eugenie and Walter Wagner

This is the story of Eugenie and Walter — our Mom and Dad — and the life they built together. It is a record of where we come from, the values they lived by, and the many small moments that shaped our family. These pages are written with love, so that future generations may know them not only by name, but by spirit.

Our Mom was born on July 19, 1936, in Charlottenburg, Germany, to Erna and Rudolf Buchholz. Her full name was Eugenie Buchholz, though she was lovingly known by many names over the years — Mom, Mutti, Grandma ,Omi, Gene, and Genie.

She spent her childhood in Wedel, Germany, surrounded by her parents and her beloved siblings: Arthur, Edwin, Aloide, and Erika. Much of her teenage years unfolded in Wedel in the years following World War II. During that time, she worked at a local gasthaus and lovingly cared for many young children — early signs of the nurturing spirit that would define her life.

Following in the footsteps of her two sisters, Gene bravely made the journey to Canada by boat, carrying with her hope, courage and determination.

Our Dad was born, on August 1, 1936, in Löpsingen, Germany, to Johann and Karolina Wagner. His full name was Walter Horst Wagner, though to us he was always Dad, Grandpa, Opa and — on rare occasions, if we dared — Wally. He was the youngest of five children and grew up on the family farm alongside his brothers Johann, Karl, and Fritz, and his sister Sophie. Farming was the family way of life. Dad’s father, also served as the Mayor of their town. The Wagner family was deeply respected in the community.

Although Dad was raised on the farm, he always knew his future lay elsewhere. Like his brothers before him, he set his sights on Canada, seeking opportunity and a new path forward.

Once both Mom and Dad were settled in Calgary, their lives came together. While attending church choir, they met and began a courtship filled with shared friendships, mountain outings, and long hikes along rustic trails. They married in April of 1960 and made Calgary their lifelong home.

Over the next 60 years, they built a full life together, raising seven children and delighting in the joy of ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Dad pursued his career with quiet determination. He studied diligently to earn his Electrical Journeyman’s license, working for several companies before his entrepreneurial spirit led him to obtain his Master’s Certificate. In 1976, he founded Wagner Electrical Contractors. We admired Dad’s tenacity and steady leadership as he navigated the economic highs and lows of business ownership. He was never afraid to learn or adapt, even embracing new technologies like AutoCAD to stay current in his field. Respected and admired, he left a lasting impression on both his industry and everyone who worked alongside him.

Meanwhile, Mom was the energetic and creative backbone of our family. With seven children, she ran a firm household. We were incredibly fortunate to grow up in a home where Mom was able to stay and raise us, while also opening her heart to foster children, caring for neighbourhood kids as a day-home provider, and later doting on her own grandchildren.

She transformed our backyard into a magical world filled with flowers, a garden, trees, and endless possibilities for imagination. Of course, there were limits — frequent warnings about the “Brummermuks” (a growling monster said to live under the deck) were usually enough to keep us all from misbehaving too much.

Mom sewed all our Halloween costumes and volunteered tirelessly at Christmas, creating angel costumes, beautiful props, and decorations for church pageants. One of her most beloved traditions was crafting giant Advent wreaths from evergreen boughs carefully selected during family trips to the “woods,” bringing cherished German customs to life for many to enjoy.

Eventually, Mom joined Dad part-time in the office, where her organizational skills shone. She kept the paperwork impeccably in order and became an essential part of the business.

Our childhood was filled with shared experiences and simple joys. We traveled countless miles in our wood-paneled station wagon — visiting relatives and friends, enjoying breakfasts and hikes in the mountains, picking pussy willows for Easter, swimming at Bridgeland outdoor pool or at Tante Christa and Uncle Gerhard’s pool, playing at Roxboro Park, and biking to Prince’s Island. There were BBQs at Tante Elsa’s, spirited games of kick-the-bucket with cousins, and a sense that life was meant to be shared.

Our parents’ love of travel led us on many adventures — road trips to Ontario, Waterton, and California, and even a trip to Hawaii. As a large family, we were deeply grateful for these experiences.

Dad passed along his love of classical music, often waking us early on Sunday mornings to the sound of Bach organ and choral works. He found joy in tennis, skiing, playing chess, engaging in deep theological discussions with Uncle Art, and — when the Flames were losing — throwing his slippers (Latschen) at the television.

Together, Mom and Dad taught us the values of hard work, generosity, humour, and togetherness. They effortlessly hosted large family gatherings in our rumpus room, with every child assigned a role, each event was lively and enjoyed by all who attended.

Mom was forever reimagining and renovating our home in Mayland Heights, rearranging furniture and adapting spaces as our family grew. She had a natural gift for design and an instinctive ability to make any space warm and welcoming. And she kept our home impeccably clean — not just clean, but “Wagner clean.”

As they approached retirement, Mom and Dad built their dream home in Chestermere in 1999. It was envisioned as a place where grandchildren and grand-dogs could roam freely among forest gnomes, whimsical details, and nature’s beauty. Their love of animals and the outdoors was reflected in their garden, filled with flowers, trees, and a pond lovingly inhabited by Wally and Wanda-two very spoilt fish, who Mom could pet when they would swim into her hands.

Retirement brought travel — several cherished trips back to Germany to visit family and friends, along with a few sunny beach getaways. Their home became a gathering place, hosting countless dinners, holidays, and Christmas celebrations over the next 20 years. Friends from Germany were welcomed and cared for with their trademark hospitality, often treated to mountain excursions, boating, and fishing trips in Kananaskis.

In late 2018, Dad’s health began to decline after a fall that caused swelling in his brain. Through remarkable determination and extensive therapy, he relearned to walk and write. His recovery was extraordinary, allowing him to continue enjoying life — including cycling along the paths in Chestermere.

The following year, Mom’s health deteriorated, and after several months in hospital, she moved into Cambridge Manor in July of 2020.

In mid-January 2021, Dad decided he was ready to join Mom there. Sadly, his heart condition progressed rapidly, and he passed away just two weeks later on February 1, 2021, at the age of 85.

Mom spent her final four years at Cambridge Manor, where she left a lasting and heartfelt impression on the exceptional caregivers who became part of her daily life. She embraced her community there, participating in activities — especially Chinese Checkers, where her nearly undefeated record brought her great pride and joy.

She continued to enjoy her lifelong passions for music and reading, and even discovered a new love for painting.

As her Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed 16 years earlier, and her heart condition progressed, we could see how tired she was becoming. Surrounded by love, Mom passed peacefully on October 13, 2024, just three months after her 88th birthday.

Mom and Dad’s legacy lives on in the family they raised, the traditions they cherished, and the love-along with the struggles they worked through together. Their lives remind us of the importance of kindness, curiosity, resilience, and togetherness. May these memories continue to be told, remembered, and carried forward — just as they would have wanted.