Ethel Wagner

Ethel Wagner, 91, of Waukon, died Thursday, March 3, 2005, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, March 7 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was in the Monona Cemetery, Monona. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.

Ethel Stone was born August 17, 1913, in Waukon, Iowa, the daughter of Delbert and Julia Etta (Graves) Stone. She attended Waukon Schools.

On September 17, 1935, she married George Wagner. Ethel and George operated a river resort south of Harpers Ferry for several years. In 1948 they moved to Jefferson Township where they farmed until retiring back in Harpers Ferry in 1956. She has been a resident of Good Samaritan Center the past year.

Ethel enjoyed being around the river and had a passion for fishing. She also loved to play cards with her family and was a member of a couple of card clubs. Her house was surrounded by flowers she liked to grow and she raised a big vegetable garden, using the produce to create a wide variety of tasty meals for family and friends. Ethel was also an avid reader and was known for her good sense of humor.

Survivors include a step-son, Wylo (Maureen) Wagner of Waukon; three step-daughters, Leatrice Lansing and Jean Ann Schumach, both of Milwaukee, Wis., and Shirley Brown of Bordentown, N.J.; 16 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George, who died in 1983; a step-son, Robert Wagner; seven brothers, Delbert, Herschel, Guy, Boyd, Cyril, William and Cecil Stone; and a sister, Hazel Smith.

Casketbearers were Adam and Zachary Steva, Brody, Keefe, and Mike Bassett, and Eric Wagner.