My deepest sympathy to Shelia and the children. Herky was always a jovial, smiling and warm person I looked up to as a child. I have fond memories and wish the family peace during their grieving process.

My condolences to the family. 
When the boys were young, I’m talking like 10, I was fortunate enough to be on the same baseball team as the Wager boys. I remember Herky always saying to them “DiMaggio would have had that.” I never knew then what it meant. I had no idea who DiMaggio was. It was like two years later that it was made clear to me he was a HOF great player. He continued to say it for all the years we played together. Fast forward to my son playing ball and I actually have said the same phrase and my kid also had no idea what I was saying. I didn’t think to say it, it just came out. Herky phrase still lives on. I have many other stories, but I like this one. I am very sorry for your loss to all the family and friends. Dave Ehrle

Patrick and Kelley, our thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve the loss of Patrick's dad.    Take comfort with family and friends.

Love,

Ann and Patrick Bogucki

Assuming The Thinker pose with his leg up on the chair with his elbow on his knee
In May my parents would have been married for 55 years
But instead of celebrating we will be shedding many tears
At the nursing home, they all loved him because he was the politest guy
When he passed the entire staff came into his room to say goodbye   
We are all heartbroken but its time for your eternal rest
To have you as our father we were all very blessed
You did the best that you could, a great father who rarely got mad
We are really going to miss you, our dear old dad
My dad would not want anyone to be sad or cry
Because Father Braun has saved him a seat at the rectory table in the sky

While working on my car he would send me to the basement to find a half inch socket
With his best friends and brother Jim and John, they had great visions
Working on the speeder, traveling, riding trains, fixing car, completing so many missions
During the October storm when everyone was worried about getting electrocuted
 Fearlessly my dad attached power lines to houses until the tense situation was concluded
While on vacation he had one wish
Not to fix anything, or untangle fishing poles or put worms on hooks, he just wanted to fish
While vacationing in Thousand Island everything we caught was a keeper
My friends thought my dad was a drug dealer because he had a beeper
Traveling with the CB hooked up on our annual summer trip to Cedar Point
We heard big Duck to little Duck at every check point
On the 4th of July while getting together with the Wagers at Rushford Lake
My dad would fire up his cannon and a loud blast it would make
Earlier that day, when we flipped four times in our canoe
He finally laughed at himself, a huge therapeutic breakthrough
He was ahead of his time with patches he sewed on his jeans
Cursing Henry Ford while working on his St Patrick’s Day Truck, the Green Machine 
During sporting events you could always hear him in the stands
Always yelling encouragement and wanting us to be the best, our biggest fans
My dad’s all-time favorite campaign
With goggles on, hat backwards, wind in his hair riding a steam train
He lived almost his entire life at the same address
He accumulated a lot of stuff at 612 Crescent any hoarder would be impressed
An engineer on the railroad for over 42 years 
With his stripped hat, pants, jacket, and grip spinning his gears 
While driving trains never in need of a pit stop on the road
He had a bladder of steal and was always ready to dead head another load       
When the railroad called in the middle of the night, he answered the phone…AB

Here is the memorial poem Art wrote for his father:

                                     Herky ,My Old Man

He went by AB, Bob Wazer, Duck, Cool Hand, and Herky
His favorite thing about Thanksgiving was a sandwich with leftover turkey
While driving our baseball team in the back of his truck, we were never late
We would all scream our heads off going under the railroad bridge, it was great
While rowing for St Joe’s he held the record for most broken oars
A wizard on the table saw cutting 2 by 4’s 
His drink of choice was a Manhattan shaken not stirred
After a few his great vision became blurred      
We went from rocks to bricks to a real NHL size hockey net in for games in the street 
My dad constructed it and even make sticks out of broom handles, a stunning feat          
He spent hours forming his one-of-a-kind, Kunken, made from the heart
Washing it down with waist trimming egg nogg at Christmas time, that was the best part
In the military he earned the badge as a sharpshooter
Because he was a big strong man, we didn’t fear any intruder
If you had trouble with your car and needed it fixed just give him a ring
At his shop, the Backyard Garage Crew could fix anything
With a tray of drinks and accoutrements including sugar to add
The shops chef baked amazing pastries and cookies to make you feel glad
There was no arguing or swearing while solving the world’s problems at Moes
The conversation continued while the brake fluid, antifreeze, and oil continued to flows
Every Saturday many cars to fix, no job was too much
Whether it was changing breaks, welding, flushing antifreeze, or needing a new clutch
With a paperclip, rubber band, gum wrapper and a shoestring
Throw in a roll of duct tape and he could fix anything
After he retired, most days to ST Mark’s Church and the rectory he would go
Changing church lights, fixing lawnmowers, or prepping the boiler all for a cup of Joe
He never left home without his money clip in his pocket
While working on my car he would send

To the Wager Family,
I was saddened to learn of Herky's passing. Rosemary and I were good friends and classmates at MSJA. I  spent a lot of time at 612 Cresant Ave. Mother Wager and my mother were also classmates at MSJA.  Because Mother Wager was wheelchair bound and my mother was a single parent James  Wager and Mary Agnes Woods caused quite a stir by chaperoning our Sr Prom together. You all have my sympathy and my prayers at this difficult time. Although it is sad for you, it brings back many wonderful memories for me.
MaryKay Woods Posluszny

OBITUARY

Arthur B. Wager

October 28, 1944 – September 25, 2025

Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home

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