William Richard Wagner

William Richard Wagner, age 81, a longtime resident of Armada, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens. Bill, the 3rd of 10 children, was born on June 21, 1944 in Ferndale, MI to Friedrich and Esther (Steinkraus) Wagner. In 1952, while living in Armada with his family, Bill met Janine B. Mills when her family moved in across the road. At 11 and 7 years of age, it definitely wasn’t “love at first sight”, but by their teenage years they had fallen in love and were eventually married on October 14, 1967. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage and most recently lived in the house where Bill spent most of his growing-up years. Bill attended Armada High School and then the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, graduating in 1967. He then worked as a self-employed Architectural Renderer for the rest of his career.

Bill was a sincere follower of Jesus Christ. He dedicated his life to the Lord as a 12-year old and was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Romeo and then later Lake Orion Baptist Church. He was diligent in prayer and Bible reading. He was active in teaching Sunday school, being a deacon, and singing in the choir. He was faithful to God and faithful to his family and encouraged them by word and action to do the same.

Bill loved the outdoors, especially while in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at his cabin in the woods. He loved hobby farming and gardening and usually grew an abundance of tomatoes and potatoes. He especially loved studying trees, splitting wood, and most of all woodworking in his well-organized workshop filled with mostly hand-made tools. His creations will be treasured by family members and others for years to come.

Bill is survived by his wife, Janine Wagner of Armada, four children and twelve grandchildren - Eliza (Ray) Keoshian, Keri, and Molly of Lakeville, Leah (Andy) Burak, Alli of Barrigada, Guam, Max (Samantha) of Lapeer, Britta, Judah, and Jessa of Dryden, Anne Wagner of Atlanta, Georgia, and Will (Ashley) Wagner, Liam, Ellie, Henry, Whit, and Lew of Ionia; siblings - Fred (Carol) Wagner, Rosemary (Jim) Wissman, Sharon (Ed) Small, Joann (Kent) Prain, Karen Wagner, Charlotte Wagner, Bob (Sherry) Wagner, Paul (Kim) Wagner, and Dave (Cathy) Wagner; in-laws - mother-in-law Jean Mills, sister-in-law Ruthette Mills, and brother-in-law Don (Anne) Mills. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Esther, his brother John Wagner, and his brother-in-law Doug Mills.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 21, 2025 from 3:00PM-7:00PM at the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11:00AM at Lake Orion Baptist Church (255 E. Scripps Rd., Lake Orion, MI 48360). Visitation will take place before the service from 10AM to 11AM.