Robert LeRoy Wagner

UPDATE:
Robert L. (Bob) Wagner, Jr., loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, left this world to be with his Lord and Savior on December 16, 2024, at his home in Lenexa, Kansas.
Bob was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, graduated from Reading High School, continued his education at Penn State University and honorably served four years in the United States Navy. Reading was also where Bob met the love of his life, and wife of over 63 years, Elaine. Bob was an avid athlete in high school, excelling in both basketball and football. He developed a passion for the game of football and continued to pursue that passion at Penn State. After graduating from Penn State with a business degree and being honorably discharged from the United States Navy after four years of service, Bob and Elaine were married and settled into their first home in Reading, PA. They quickly started a family and welcomed three children into the world during their first 5 years of marriage. Bob and Elaine loved nothing more than being parents and loving their children.
Bob started his business career at The Carpenter Steel Company in Reading, working for the company that he had worked at as a steel mines laborer when he was younger. It was also during these early years of his career that Bob found a way to continue to feed his passion for the game of football by becoming a licensed official to officiate both football and basketball. Little did Bob know what a significant role officiating would play in his life and the many blessings it would bestow upon him and his family.
After seven years at Carpenter Steel, during all of which Bob was active in officiating both football and basketball at the high school level, Bob received a promotion at work and was asked to move to St. Louis to assume the position of District Manager. This was a major decision for Bob and Elaine. They had a young family; all of their family and friend roots were in Reading, and they knew nothing about or did not have any friends in the mid-west. After many months of discussion and prayer, Bob and Elaine made the decision to move to St. Louis, changing the course of their family's life forever.
The Wagner family settled in Kirkwood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and Bob and Elaine immediately immersed themselves in their new life, quickly making friends and serving the community in many ways. Bob was an active member of Webster Hills United Methodist Church where he served in many leadership and volunteer capacities, he became a Scout Leader in the local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, served as President of the Kirkwood High School PTA and Pioneer Booster Club (the first football field lights were approved and installed under Bob's leadership, bringing night football to Kirkwood for the first time ever), served on the Boards of Kirkwood Young Life and the St. Louis Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as many other civic and personal groups that Bob was a part of and served. Bob also transferred his officiating license to Missouri and joined the St. Louis Officials Association and quickly began proving himself as a great official to the schools, coaches and other officials in St. Louis.
Bob quickly rose through the officiating ranks, working his way from officiating high school games (including the traditional Turkey Day game between Kirkwood and Webster Groves), to small college games and was eventually selected to work at the major college level as an official in the Big 8 Conference. During his time in the Big 8, Bob worked many huge games including a couple of the "games of the century" between Nebraska and Oklahoma, as well as an Aloha Bowl and a Cotton Bowl. In 1984, Bob got the call he had always dreamed of and was selected to become an Umpire in the National Football League. Bob worked many significant and memorable games during his 19 year officiating career in the NFL, including being assigned to the crew for Super Bowl XXXIV between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans. More than the games he worked, it was the lifelong friends he made and the experiences it provided to him and his family that meant the most to Bob. He retired from the NFL in 2002 and remains and honorary member of the St. Louis and Professional Football Officials Associations. Bob was also elected to the Pennsylvania and Missouri Sports Hall of Fames.
Other than officiating, Bob found time to enjoy many other hobbies and passions. He loved music and could often be heard singing or whistling his favorite pop tunes or church Hymns. He loved golfing and fishing with his friends and cherished his times at Rockbridge Trout Stream. Bob was an avid reader and gifted speaker who loved sharing his life experiences and favorite lessons learned. He always had an instructive poem, movie line or favorite quote memorized that he would use to teach and get his messages across. He was a student of the Bible, and relished his time in the Word and with friends in the many of his men's Bible study and Fellowship groups that he was a part of. But more than anything else in this world, Bob loved family. He was never happier or more content than when he was surrounded by family, especially if it was over a bowl of ice cream (especially Ted Drew's), a game of Uno, Sorry, Charades or Chess with his grandchildren, watching Cardinal baseball games, creating incredible experiences with a grandchild on their "10 year old trip", sitting in Church together or simply gathering around the table on Gaslite Lane in Kirkwood telling stories and sharing laughs. Above all, Bob loved his wife Elaine dearly and completely. He was devoted to loving and caring for her, and there has never been a person who lived his vows of "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do us part" harder and more devotedly than Bob did. He spent his last days on this earth pouring every ounce of love, energy, and life he had into caring for and loving his wife. He now rests peacefully waiting for her to join him again where they will be together for eternity, and there is nothing that would put a bigger smile on his face than that!
Bob is preceded in death by his mother, Florine, and his father Robert. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, brother Barry, son Mike (wife Angela), son Todd (wife Alex) and Daughter Beth (husband Lyle). He is also survived by and was PawPaw to 12 grandchildren: Adam, Ally, Leah, Kirby, Cooper, Sophie, Landry, Hunter, Cade, Spencer, Camp and Brayden as well as 11 great grandchildren and two on the way!
A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held at 11:00am on Monday, January 20, at:
Heartland Community Church in Olathe
12175 Strang Line Rd.
Olathe, KS 66062
913-341-5820
All that were fortunate enough to know or have been blessed somehow by Bob are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Bob's family takes great comfort in knowing that he placed his full assurance and hope in the grace and goodness of His Savior Jesus Christ that he continually grew in relationship with until the end of his days, that he finished well and is now enjoying eternity in glory with His Lord. Nothing would encourage Bob more than knowing each of you might also put your hope in Christ as a result of the life he lived. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either St. Louis Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (www.Stlfca.org ) or to Kirkwood Young Life (www.younglife.org ) – please direct giving toward MO23 which serves the Kirkwood area.