Charley Wagner

Charles “Charley” Raymond Wagner, 61, of Crump/Adamsville, TN, went home to his Lord on Thursday, Oct. 2nd, 2014 after a short battle with cancer.




Charley was born January 24, 1953 in Waupun, WI the son of Hale and Carolyn Druhot Wagner. Charley attended Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, WI, graduated in 1971, and excelled at soccer and swimming. He also appeared in drama productions, including “West Side Story” and a student-written show, “Terracide”. He graduated from UW-Madison and after various short-lived jobs, settled into working at his father’s law office doing tax work. Charley was an accomplished musician, teaching himself guitar at a young age. He played in various bands throughout the years, including “The Frustration” in high school, The Bluegrass Survivors, the Piper Road Spring Band and Turtle Creek Cajun Band. He also learned banjo and mandolin over the years. He led music camps and participated in Bluegrass festivals in northern Wisconsin, and spent time out east at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) near Wilkes-Barre, PA. He was a member of the SE Wisconsin Bluegrass Association, jamming whenever a few could get together. Charley was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling, enjoyed trips to Scotland and the Holy Lands, as well as an epic canoe trip with his brother, Steve, in 1969 down the entire length of the Mississippi River. In recent years he took up woodworking and created beautiful pens and salt and pepper grinders on his lathe. On September 23, 2000, Charley married Kate Riefler at Waupun’s Union-Congregational Church and they resided in Tennessee from around 2008 until his death.

Charley is survived by his wife, Kate; sister, Amie (Alan) Clark; brother, Steve (Suzie) Wagner; step-daughter, Christine (Jason) Wilson; step-granddaughter, Cheyenne Wilson and Shaina Christian; step-great-grandchildren, Cameron and Lilith; nieces: Alana Clark, and Elisabeth and Katie Wagner; nephew, Dr. Patrick (Kate) Wagner; aunt, Mary (Madison) Wright; cousins: Tim Wagner, Bill and David Wright, Martha (John) Fennig, and Sarah (George) French.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; uncles, Bob Druhot and Dr. William Wagner; and cousin, Joseph Wagner.




Visitation:


Friends and relatives may call on the family on Saturday at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of service.



Services:


A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Werner-Harmsen Funeral Home with Rev. Jack Kraaz officiating.