William "Bill" Newell "Bill" Wagner

Saint Albans – William "Bill" Newell Wagner a longtime community member passed away unexpectedly Thursday, July 17, 2025, while working with his son, Joey, in Morrisville.

Born in Syracuse, New York on November 12, 1956, he was the son of Theresa (Richmond) Wagner and the late Harold Wagner. Bill was 68 years old.

On November 8th, 1980, in Burlington Vermont, Bill married Deborah "Deb" Ann Smith, who survives him.

Bill was a beloved pillar of his family and community, adored by all. His generosity, patience, strength, compassion and kindness were felt and well known to anyone who knew him.

Bill and Deb first met in the summer of 1977, just months before their 21st birthdays, while working as cook and waitress at a country inn in the Catskill Mountains in New York. What began as an instant connection led to a lifetime of shared adventures carrying them from the slopes of Vermont ski resorts to the deck of a schooner on Lake Champlain, across the country by road and train, and to Fairfield, where they built a home and raised three sons together.

Bill's sons, Dan, Joe, and Tom were the light and joy of his life. Bill's sons will forever cherish their childhood and adult memories of fishing, camping, skiing, canoeing, boating trips in the Boston Whaler, road trips, and hiking in the Green Mountains. Bill's passions and hobbies shared with family and friends spanned woodworking, boat building, elderberry wine making, and countless construction projects.

After completing a culinary degree, Bill worked as a professional cook for 10+ years in restaurants in New York and Vermont. After starting a family, Bill earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from UVM and worked in the paper manufacturing industry. Bill remained deeply committed to and proud of his 30+ years of service, camaraderie, friendships built working at the paper mill in Sheldon. After retirement, Bill earned a CDL and enjoyed five years working with Valliancourt Transport, where he served and befriended clients in the Dairy industry across northern VT. Over the course of his farm visits Bill rescued and re-homed (at least) 8 kittens.

Bill's lifelong love and compassion for animals and pets extended to his dogs, Daisy, Buttercup, Artie and Hobbes, and three cats. In recent years Bill worked with his son Joe on construction projects at his Morristown-based veterinary practice, Sugar Run Equine. Amongst the entire Sugar Run family, Bill will be dearly missed.

Bill is survived by his mother, Theresa; his wife, Deborah; their 3 sons, Daniel Elger Wagner, Joseph Warren Wagner and Thomas Andrew Wagner and their partners, Shila Mekhoubad, Jackie Wagner and Allison White, as well as granddaughter, Talia Wagner. He is also survived by his brother Kurt Wagner and sisters, Irene Wagner and Patti Wentworth.

Bill's family will receive family and friends on Sunday, July 27, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans.

Services for Bill will be private and at the convenience of his family.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the All About the Kitties Adoption and Rescue, 1962 Lower Newton Road, St. Albans, Vermont 05478.

Honored to be serving the family of Bill Wagner is Rett Heald, where messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.