Larry Joseph Wagner

Larry Wagner, 81, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 10:00AM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner Catholic Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday, October 7, 2024 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic church from 6-7PM with a 7PM prayer service https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063938806463
Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Wagner was born (stubbornly, we assume) November 19, 1942, on the family farm to his parents, Lawrence and Sedonia (Stritecky) Wagner, and where he joined his older sister Regina. The family eventually grew with the births of his siblings Janet, Joyce, Nancy and Kevin.
Larry began his journey as a farmer at the age of three, when he started helping his dad fix fence. Larry would drive the Jeep (with the help of wooden blocks attached to the pedals) while his dad fixed the fence. When he needed to turn the wheel, his dad would say "Turn to Mommy's side" or "Turn to Daddy's side" and he then knew that he needed to go right or left!
Larry attended country school through the 7th grade, then attended St. Mary's School during his 8th grade year. He graduated from Winner High School in 1960. Interestingly, Larry only spoke Czech prior to starting grade school. However, as he got older, the only Czech that he could remember cannot be repeated here!
After high school, Larry stayed on the farm and worked with his dad. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965 and was honorably discharged in 1967, spending most of his service time in Germany. Larry then returned to the family farm.
Larry met Judy Konvalin in August 1967 and they were married in November 1968. They moved to the family farm after their marriage and were blessed with two children, Craig and Darcy.
There were three things (not counting the Minnesota Vikings and Boston Celtics) that were very important to Larry: family, faith and community. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus (3rd and 4th Degrees) and The American Legion. Over the years, Larry was involved in numerous community and church organizations and activities, including the Jaycees (where he reached the esteemed status of Exhausted Rooster), Wilson Township Board, Winner Quarterback Club, and the Contingency Fund Board for the West River Catholic Diocese.
While Larry held a deep love for his family, his faith and his community, if you knew him, you understood his passion for and commitment to farming and ranching. One of the hardest things he ever did in his life was to sell his cattle herd and retire from ranching. Larry continued to farm until his and Judy's recent move to town. As his work life wound down, he spent many enjoyable hours with his shop-talk coffee buddies and attending "Safety Committee" meetings.
Off the farm, one passion Larry had was for playing cards, especially pitch in his later years. And he was very good at it (annoyingly so for those of us he beat mercilessly!). Whether it be at family gatherings, at the bar on Friday afternoons after the sale, or with their good friends on New Year's Eve, Larry was always ready to sit at the table and play. In fact, his card playing talent allowed him to win enough money to pay for a cruise - while he was on that cruise!
Anyone who knew Larry knew he could carry on a conversation with almost anyone he met (trust us, it was in his DNA!) and was always good for a joke or a story - appropriate or not! He would talk often of some of his fondest memories, including a Christmas sleigh ride to his grandparents' home, his Grandpa Wagner waiting for him to return from the military before passing away, a blizzard where he and several schoolmates sheltered at the Novotny's until the storm subsided and they could make it home, and the countless good times he had with Wayne, Jim, Dave, Gary and the guys.
Larry would also share memories from his time in the military, including breaking his leg right before his induction and the related story about how his crutches somehow "grew" as his buddies tried to console him one night with a few drinks at the Witten bar, touring London and Paris, bicycling though Switzerland, and keeping all the beer halls in Germany safe!
Larry was a memorable character, especially to his family. He was a steady source of amusement to Judy, Craig and Darcy, whether he wanted to be or not! While there are too many memories to recount here, there are a few that truly stand out, including Larry's sage travel advise of "no sockey, no goey", the adventures with the family's first satellite dish, and last, but certainly not least, "The Great Canadian Underwear Drop of 2018".
Due to Judy's health issues, Larry and Judy recently made a move to Golden Prairie Manor. While it was so very difficult for Larry to leave the farm, the warm and welcoming spirit of the staff and residents of the Manor made the transition easier for him. While his time at the Manor was short, he came to enjoy the great view from their apartment, the excellent food and the people around him.
Larry passed away unexpectedly on September 30, 2024, in Emmetsburg, Iowa at the age of 81 while on a trip with his sisters Janet and Joyce to visit their sister Regina and her family. Larry is survived by Judy, his wife of 55 years, and his children, Craig and Darcy, along with his siblings Regina (Doug) Kogel, Janet Kahler, Joyce Heath and Kevin (Lori) Wagner. He is also survived by his grandchildren John (Dawn) Schwinler, Mercedes Thompson, Jackson Wagner, Celena Wagner, Terry Wagner and Josh Wagner, and great-grandchildren Riley, Anora, Xavier and Airabella. Larry is also survived by numerous special cousins and nieces and nephews, along with many beloved friends and neighbors.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy Meister and brothers-in-law Monte Kahler and Don Heath, his father- and mother-in-law Ernest and Myrtle Konvalin, and his beloved aunts and uncles and cousins.
Any memorials received will be donated to charities and organizations supported by Larry.