Margaret Louise Liljedahl Wagner

Margaret Liljedahl Wagner, age 86, died peacefully at her home at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, VA on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. Her Christian faith, which sustained her throughout her life, and especially her final journey, guides her to her new life with Jesus.

​She was born September 8, 1936 to Robert and Clara Liljedahl in Greenfield, IA in a small birthing hospital. She grew up on several farms around Iowa with her brother, Harold, and sister, Roberta, where she developed a love for cats that led her to adopt many barn kitties over her lifetime.

​Margaret graduated from Chariton High School and entered the University of Iowa as a music major shortly after nursing her mother through her battle with ALS. There she met and then married in 1957 her loving husband of 65 years Virgil Wagner. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Music Education and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

​After a short career as a band director and music teacher she became a homemaker and lovingly raised three children of whom she was very proud. Frequently included in family events and vacations were additional nieces and nephews. Being a brunette, she was often asked about her little six blonde children. She dressed them in matching bright orange sweatshirts, and never lost a child.

​She continued her music by teaching French Horn, playing in local bands and symphonies, and volunteering as the church choir director and organist at Lutheran Churches wherever she was living. She was once told by a parent that she “could teach a frog to sing!”

​She had a lifelong love of nature that had been fostered by her father, who taught Agricultural Conservation to veterans. She was a longtime volunteer with the National Wildlife Federation where she especially enjoyed leading children’s nature walks and programs.

​After raising her children she became an Earth Science teacher before retiring to accompany her husband whose career took him to the Netherlands for a few years. She particularly enjoyed traveling around Europe and delighted in practicing her Dutch with local shopkeepers (who enjoyed practicing their English with her!). She became a mentor to other Expats relocating to Holland, hosting Thanksgiving dinners and other gatherings and providing “family” away from home.

​She developed a lifelong love of cooking and attended various cooking schools around the world. She was an adventurous eater who was known to try even Limberger cheese and Lutefisk!

​Her life was one of service to family, church, and community. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Virgil Wagner, her three devoted children, Daryl Wagner, Kara Wagner Brown (Wilson Brown), and Kristin Wagner, and her three grandchildren Kate Alice Brown, Dan Brown (Maddie Kelleher), and Nick Brown as well as several nieces, nephews, and their children. She will be missed by her family and the many friends she cherished during her lifetime.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents, her brother and his wife, her sister and her husband, her husband’s brother, and a nephew.

A memorial service celebrating her life and resurrection will be held Friday, September 30 at 3:00pm at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, VA. Her ashes will be scattered in the Duck Run Memorial Garden in the Blue Ridge Mountains the following day.

In lieu of flowers please offer a memorial to your choice of:

Dementia Action Alliance (https://daanow.org/support-daa/)

Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge Foundation

(https://westminstercanterbury.salsalabs.org/give/index.html) Select fund “Health and Well-Being Across the Continuum” to support pastoral care and music activities.

Save the Music Foundation (https://donate.savethemusic.org/give/263296/#!/donation/checkout)

National Wildlife Federation (https://support.nwf.org/page/41814/donate/1)