It is with great sorrow that we announce our dad, Zane G. Wagner of Fayetteville, son of Albert and Lizzie Wagner of St. Johnsville, passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on Sunday, April 18, 2021. He graduated from St. Johnsville High School on June 24, 1941.
He was a U.S. Naval veteran of WWII. He was assigned as a radio/radar man in a two-man torpedo bomber Avenger airplane, which was catapulted off the deck of the escort aircraft carrier U.S.S. Card, to search and bomb enemy submarines off the U.S. Coast. In 1943 the plane crashed into the sea in the Bermuda Triangle’s shark infested waters. Luckily, he and the pilot were quickly rescued.
Our dad, through the G.I. Bill, entered college, earning a degree in Radio and Communications at Alfred State College in June 1948 and a Bachelor of Arts degree at Alfred University on June 12, 1950. He married the love of his life, our mother, Irene K. Mueller on April 28, 1945. She passed away on Oct. 5, 2009.
Our father worked for General Electric Co. for 38 years as a technical writer and produced manuals to aid personnel working on the guidance system for the Atlas missile. He also wrote operating manuals for radar systems for the military. He also worked on the Trident Submarine project.
Our dad enjoyed the outdoor life. Hunting, fishing, boating, and camping in the Adirondacks with family were his favorite things to do. He also was an avid archer and won many trophies in archery tournaments.
He is predeceased by his parents, wife, and his sister, Rita. He is survived by his children, Irene (David), Albert (Suzanne), Bruce and Elaine (Keith); his grandchildren, Ben, Brian, Jeffrey and Stephanie; his great-grandchildren, Macy, Bradley, Peyton and Levi. He is also survived by his nephew, Zane Weaver and his cousin, Fred Wagner.
His quick wit and dry sense of humor will be sorely missed at family gatherings. Mom, he is in your hands now….
For guest book, please visit scheppfamily.com.
