Ned Wagner, age 91, of Bloomsburg, passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2022. He was born on February 7, 1931, the son of the late Paul and Elsie (Hoffman) Wagner. In his early years, he attended the one room schoolhouse in Lincoln Park (Reading). He was a 1949 graduate of Upper Darby High School and a 1951 graduate of the Penn State Forestry school at Mont Alto, PA. While growing up, he spent his summers working on his uncles' farms while residing with his grandmother, Edith Hoffman, in Roaring Creek Valley near Millgrove, PA. Winter school months in Upper Darby, PA, included delivering morning and afternoon newspapers, carrying packages at the local supermarket, helping the local milk deliveryman from his horse drawn wagon.
Ned was a veteran of the Korean war, serving in the U.S. Army from 1951 1954, attaining the rank of Sgt 1st Class. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the ROK Korean War Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the U.S. Army Meritorious Unit citation ribbon.
Ned was a former employee of U.S. Radium Corp, Kawneer Company (Plant Manager), Mfg Shop Vac Corp (Director), Alumo Products Company (President, CEO and Chairman of the Board). He served the Bloomsburg area as the director of the Town Park Improvement Association, was a member of the Bloomsburg Rotary Club, the Bloomsburg Chamber of Commerce, and served as the Vice President and Drive Chairman for the Columbia County United Fund. He was a life member of the Bloomsburg Post #273 American Legion and the Bloomsburg Lodge #436 Elks.
Ned was a dedicated photographer, creating his own dark room for developing film and pictures. He loved taking and printing pictures of his friends, wildlife, flowers, sunrises and sunsets. He was an avid fly fisherman who tied his own flies and loved fishing his favorite Pennsylvania and Colorado trout streams. Ned and his wife, Marie (Woznick), were married on June 26, 1954, and enjoyed over 68 years of marriage together, during which they traveled to all 50 states and 42 foreign countries. Every summer for 20 years, he and his wife visited their daughter and her family in Colorado. His bird feeders were never allowed to be empty, and he said that he spent as much on bird seed as he did groceries. Following his retirement, he spent many years having his morning coffee with friends, a time he cherished. Ned was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church, Bloomsburg.
In addition to his parents, Ned was also preceded in death by a sister, Nancy McCaffrey.
Ned is survived by his wife, Marie, his daughter Tanja Bugas (husband Steve), his son Thomas Wagner (wife Teresa) and three beloved grandchildren: Tyler Bugas, Thomas J. Wagner, and Sarah (Wagner) Johnson.
A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron St., Bloomsburg.
A Mass of Christian Burial will begin on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Columba Catholic Church with Rev. Richard J. Mowery, Celebrant. Graveside committal services will be held privately in All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg with military honors provided by the combined V.F.W. and American Legion Honor Guard. The Allen Funeral Home, Inc., 745 Market at Eighth Street, Bloomsburg is honored to be serving the Wagner family.