Bernadine Wagner's Obituary
Bernadine (Bernie) Theobald Wagner was called to our Lord on Thursday, December 2nd at her home in Amherst, Ohio.
Bernie was born in Lorain, Ohio on September 10, 1929 to Florian and Mabel (Metz)Theobald. Bernadine was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School and the Oberlin School of Commerce, and
worked as an executive secretary at Lake Terminal Railroad until her marriage to Dr. Walter Peter (Pete)
Wagner in 1952. They had ten children together and enjoyed 32 years of marriage.
Bernie was an ardent community volunteer whose interests focused on children and families. She was a long-time member of Twigbenders (Child Conservation League), the Amherst Historical Society, and served as a host parent for several exchange students through the American Field Service and Youth for Understanding programs. All ten of her children attended Marion L. Steele High School where Bernie was an active supporter of her children’s extracurricular activities including wrestling, track, cross country, and drama. All of her children went on to earn advanced degrees, providing further testament to her deep commitment to education. Later in life Bernie married Albert Doane. They were married for 14 years before his passing in June, 2021.
Bernie is survived by her ten children: Margaret (Jack) Haney of Ravenna, OH; Dr. Peter C. (Cindy)Wagner of Tempe, AZ; Dr. Mark Wagner of Bowling Green, OH; Dr. Cynthia (Dr. Rudy) Ochs of Hart, MI; Lisa Fleury of New Era, MI; Wendy (Dr. James) Ohliger of Amherst, OH; Dr. Paul (Lisa) Wagner of Pentwater, MI; Dr. Connie (Dr. Steven) Strbich of Ludington, MI; Dr. Timothy (Joanne) Wagner of Amherst, OH; Dr. Thomas (Lisa) Wagner of Columbia Station, OH; 42 grandchildren ranging in age from 1 to 42 years old, and 16 great-grandchildren. Bernadine is also survived by sisters Rose Marie Evans of Middlefield, OH; Dr. Joan Wrenn of Palo Alto, CA; sisters-in-law Marie (John) Russert of Elyria, OH; Jeanne Zimmerman of Bellevue, OH; and Mary Lou Splane of Hart, MI.
Bernie is preceded in death by her parents Florian and Mabel Theobald, brother John Theobald, her husband Pete, second husband Albert Doane, and son-in-law Gerald Fleury.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 8th, from 4 -7 pm in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Friends will also be received on Thursday from 9:00 am until the time of her Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 200 St. Joseph Drive, Amherst. The Rev. Fr. Timothy J. O’Connor, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Amherst. To send an online condolence, please go to www.dovinreberjones.com.
Donations in Bernie’s memory can be made to the Dr. Pete and Bernie Wagner Scholarship Fund at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, 191 W. Union St. Athens, OH 45701. https://secure3.convio.net/ohio/site/Donation2?2321.donation=form1&df_id=2321&mfc_pref=T&area_selected=1105&fund_selected=3811.
St. Joseph Catholic
Church, 200 St. Joseph Dr. Amherst, OH 44001; Lorain County Free Clinic, 5040 Oberlin Ave. Lorain, OH.
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