Born September 24, 1920 in St. Louis, MO and died May 20, 2018 in Olathe, KS. One of the last “Greats” of the Greatest Generation, Francis J. Wagner Jr. died May 20, 2018. Fran lived a wonderful life of love for God, family and country. He proposed to his lifelong soul mate, Grace, the night before Pearl Harbor. Fran enlisted in the US Army and served his country in Burma during World War II as Tank Commander, and retired 25 years later as a Lieutenant Colonel. After the war, Fran graduated from St. Louis University while working for Shell Independent Oil Company. After he left as the top salesman, he bought his own company, Mozel Chemical in St. Louis. After a 30 year successful run, Fran sold the company and went back to college. At age 68, Fran was the oldest graduate to earn an MBA at Washington University.
Along the way, Grace and Fran were loving parents to 8 children. The couple attended St. Clement Catholic Church in Des Peres for nearly 50 years. Their deep faith and generous support of several charities was an inspiration to all. Fran and Grace retired to The Willows in St. Louis, and eventually moved to Santa Marta in Kansas City to be close to several of their children. Fran was married to Grace for 75 years. All who knew him will miss him.
Preceded in death by wife, Grace; parents Francis and Gladys and two brothers, Bob and Dick. Survived by eight children, Catherine (Alan Webster) Wagner, Gregory (Nancy) Wagner, Janet (Jim) Schaefer, Mary Anderson, Tess (Frank) Hughes, Carolyn (Mike) Maphies, Anne McGovern, Stephen (Leslie) Wagner; 18 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren (with one on the way), nieces Susie McDermott and Betsy Wagner Smith.
Visitation in Kansas City, Sunday, May 27, 2-4pm at McGilley’s Funeral Home, 12301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, MO. Services in St. Louis, Tuesday, May 29: visitation 10-11am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11am, St. Clement Catholic Church, 1510 Bopp Rd, Des Peres, MO. Francis will be laid to rest next to his loving wife, Grace, at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the charity of the donor's choice.
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