Rev. John H. Wagner Jr.

Wagner, Rev. John H.
Rev. John H. Wagner, Jr., 76, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on August 23, 2005 in Santa Rosa, CA of cancer. John was noted for his commitment to urban ministries and planning. He served as Director of the Commission on Urban Life for the National Council of Churches and was deployed to LA to become Director of the Inter-religious Committee of the LA Region Goals Project. This project was established by the Mayor in 1966 inviting citizens and professionals from diverse areas of expertise to define a ten-year master plan for the city. This inter-religious work became part of a project for the World Council of Churches. Los Angeles was one of twelve cities around the globe studied that illustrated the challenges of urbanism to the church. In the 70's and 80's, John served for twelve years as Executive Director of Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, an agency which provided twelve social service centers, and assisted in resettlement of refugees from Southeast Asia and Central America. He was Director of Joint Health Venture, a community organization composed of hospitals, colleges and churches devoted to addressing community health issues. In addition, he was the Director of United Way's Kellogg Training Center, a center for education of non-profit Boards of Directors. Rev. Wagner was a mission developer of Faith Lutheran Church in Lavallette, NJ, and served as Pastor of Hollywood Lutheran Church. He also served as interim Pastor of Lutheran congregations in Glendale, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Long Beach and Downey. John was called to serve the National Lutheran Council in Chicago, Christian Associates in Pittsburg, PA and was on the Urban and Industrial Commission for the World Council of Churches. He received his Masters in Theology from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, and met his wife Dorothy in NY. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and his 50th year of ordination. He is survived by Dorothy; his sons, Robert and William; daughters Lynne Schouest and Joy Petty; six grandchildren, Jonathan, Christopher, and Timothy Schouest, Katrina, Elizabeth, and Jackson Petty; and his three sisters, Mary Wagner, Barbara Moyer and Kitti Colucci. A Celebration of Life for John will be held Sat. Sept. 3, 2005 at 3pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Santa Rosa. Memorial gifts may be made to the Church, Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, QueensCare Health and Faith Partnership, Memorial Hospice in Santa Rosa, or any church and charity.