Bill Wagner Memorial Service

Service Outline

Officiant: Rev. Dr. Brandon Morrow

Estimated time: <40 minutes

Processional Music

Prelude by Santiago Quijano

Welcome

Good afternoon, my name is Brandon Morrow, and today I have the honor and privilege of celebrating the life of Bill and to encourage us with the hope of resurrection only supplied by our Lord, Jesus. On behalf of the family, I want to say thank you for being here. We hope you laugh, remember, are inspired through Bill’s life, but above all, we pray you hear of God’s grace which has made all of these memories possible!

Opening

We gather in God’s presence to remember and give thanks for the life of William “Bill” Wagner to affirm God’s love for us, and to support one another in a time of need. Let us acknowledge our grief and be open in our love, affirming the meaning and mystery of life, confident in the hope of the resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let’s open our time together with a word of prayer.

Prayer

God our Comforter, you are our refuge and strength, a helper close at hand in times of distress. You forgive what we have done and what we have left undone; your mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Help us to hear the words of our faith that our fear is dispelled, our loneliness eased, and our hope reawakened. May your Holy Spirit lift us above our natural sorrow, to the peace and light of your constant love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Special Music

Thankgiving by Bob Franke, sung by Jan brown

Scripture Reading

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remembrances

Rodney Siegfried, Lifetime Friend

Reginald Nelson, Business Colleague

Song

I Will Be Here For You by Michale W. Smith

Suzanne Kroger, Soloist and Matt McCormick, Pianist

Scripture Reading

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Eulogy/Brief Message on John 14:1-3

I count it a joy and privilege to stand before you all today to remember Bill, to celebrate the gift that God has given us in his life, and to point us to the hope of Jesus.

I got the chance to sit with Bill at home on several occasions as his health was declining, and while I wish I had, had years of those same opportunities, I am so grateful for the time I did have with him.

One Sunday I had gone over to the house after church and he had been watching the worship service and the sermon online and that morning I had told the story of a religious leader named Judas Maccabeus, otherwise known as Judas The Hammer, and in the sermon I joked that it would be pretty cool to have a nickname like that.

When I showed up, he said he thought that was pretty cool and he thought that I should have a nickname as well, so he came up with Brandon the Brave — and we both laughed — and looking back, I think that title was more fitting for Bill than it was for me: Bill the Brave, or Bill the Brilliant, or Bill the Bold. I think all of those would be fine, but I prefer Bill the Brave. There is one major item in our number of conversations where we talked about life, death, the gift of family, and even though his health was declining, and his body was failing, Bill didn’t complain, didn’t lament over his circumstances, but reflected with gratitude in every single conversation we had.

This afternoon, I would just remark on that level of bravery. It makes me think of a passage in John 14, where Jesus says:

John 14:1–3 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Bill’s heart was not troubled, and as we’ll hear later, Bill had immense confidence and belief in the Lord — and we trust that the Lord will have already honored his promise, having prepared a place for him.

I’ve had some time to think about Bill and I’s conversations at his home… and here is where I did not see any evidence of a heart that was troubled:

He spoke only of the things he was thankful for.

He spoke every single time about the almost 50 years of marriage with Doreen, and how he wanted more years with her.

He spoke every single time about how proud he was of his sons, Phil with his career in medicine and science; and Ryan, working in the legal system.

He spoke of how blessed he was by his grandchildren… and he talked about each of them over the course of our visits.

He spoke about how fortunate he was to have traveled to some of the most beautiful places in the world, to have had the career he had, to have the family and friendships that he and Doreen were blessed with.

“I’m just so blessed,” — he must have said that to me several dozen times.

Today is another reminder of how blessed Bill was… by all of you, in any capacity that you knew him or his family.

Doreen, you are a living reminder of how blessed Bill was. With Doreen’s permission, I want to read you a letter she read to Bill.

Dear Bill,

I want you to know how much I love and treasure you.

We have been through both heartache and joy together these last 50 years of marriage. We are usually on the same page when it comes to parenting, traveling, or just spending an afternoon at Costco. We like the same things and yet we are different. That is what makes us click I guess.

Yes, we can both be stubborn, unyielding, and obstinate at times, but for the most part, we have always managed to come back to the marriage to which we are committed.

Thank you for always wanting to take care of me. Although I complain at times because of my need for independence, I know deep down that you do it because you care so much for me.

I watched your dad do that for your mom so I know that it is done out of love and a learned habit from your dad. You have provided that model to our sons.

We have been lucky to travel, have jobs that we adored, and pretty much enjoyed living on Aspinwall Court. You have taken care of everything around the house, and you constantly have given your time to others whether it is family, neighbors, or donating to organizations that need help.

Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for providing me with a wonderful life.

Thank you for life itself with you. I am in love because I see you every way I turn-no matter what you are doing. I know that you will be there for me.

You are my best friend, my lover, and my soul mate. You have supported me like no one else before. I would be lost without you.

Doreen remarked to me that right now she’s learning a lot… Bill took care of everything for her. She’s becoming quite adept at figuring things out on YouTube, and is missing having to hear that Bill knows a guy who could take of something. Doreen, you got pampered for a long time… from dealing with every record for your family under the sun, to figuring out sprinklers, to him taking care of you when you were dealing with hip pain in another country — you pampered him and blessed him as you cared for him until the end. In every way, you blessed him.

Both of Bill’s sons, Phil and Ryan will have a chance to share with us today about their dad. You’ll hear how blessed Bill was by both of them.

Bill was blessed by his grandchildren… His granddaughter June said that Bill sparked her competitiveness, and Bill was a ruthless Scrabble player — and there’s proof that June beat him. He told he’d stick in the fridge because it was her “defining moment.” He was blessed by his grandchildren as he’d take them out for frozen yogurt and he’d have to take a bit of theirs. He was blessed by his grandchildren when he’d come to babysit and he’d put a diaper on his head and chase the kids around. His grandchildren are more living reminders of how blessed of a man he was.

He was blessed by his family when he’s the first phone call when something goes south — blessed to be used, asked, and resourced, but he was resourceful — nothing that couldn’t be fixed or taken care of.

As I’ve said, blessed by all of you.

Bill is most blessed by Jesus, where as John 14 has said, He has received His prepared place. With Jesus, there is no troubled heart.

My encouragement for you today friends and family, is put your faith and trust in Jesus, with Jesus there is no troubled heart, and I’m certain the Lord has as many blessings for you as He did for Bill.

Song

The Wedding Song, Paul Stookey Jan Brown (Jan sang this at Bill and Doreen’s wedding)

Remembrances

Phil Wagner, Son and Ryan Wagner, Son

Video Remembrance (Spotify Playlist)

To be played by video/slideshow.

Commendation

Let us pray. Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Bill. Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Comfort us, fill us with your joy, remind us of your never lacking grace. We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Conclusion of Service (Instructions)

As we prepare to exit the family has invited you to join us on the patio and in the Fellowship Hall for a short reception. Due to family plans, we’re asking that you respect the family’s request to keep the reception to no more than an hour.

Postlude

Robert Ingham, Bagpiper performs Amazing Grace