Jacob Wagner

Jacob G. Wagner, age 89, of Appleton, died peacefully on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Born in West Bloomfield on January 30, 1927, he was the youngest child of Jacob and Anna (Mueller) Wagner. On June 1, 1947, he married Eileen Leiby and they spent over 60 happy years together until her death in 2009. He is survived by his wife of five years, Kathleen (Curry) Wagner whom he married on October 15, 2010; his children Jim (DeDe) Wagner, West Bend, Bob (Sandy) Wagner, Waupaca, Linda (Peter) Van Beaver, Wilbraham, MA, son-in-law, Joe (Nancy) Schouten, Appleton; his grandchildren Nate (Renee), Joe (Stephanie), Dave (Nicole), Andy (Megumi), Nick, Jason, Jon, Rachel, and Allie; eight great grandchildren Aesop, Kaleb, Humphrey, Sydney, Susan, Vayda, Avery, Miles; three stepchildren Kate, Chris, and Eileen, their extended families, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen (Leiby) Wagner, his daughter, Susan (Wagner) Schouten, his granddaughter, Jenny Schouten, and four brothers: Elmer, Harold, Raymond, and George Wagner.

Jake opened his first cheese factory in 1948 and sold cheese with his brothers through Wagner Cheese Company. In the early 1960's, he and his four brothers consolidated their cheese factories into one plant, forming Weyauwega Milk Products. They contracted exclusively with Kraft Cheese, making Kraft Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheddar. He remained there as Vice President until his retirement in 1989. He was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Winchester, serving in various capacities over the years, including Council President, spent many years on the Board of Directors at M & I Bank, Oshkosh, and was a long time member of Ridgeway Country Club, serving on their board as well. He was also a member of United Church of Christ, Oshkosh, and St. Bernard Catholic Church, Appleton.

Jake will be remembered as a generous, devoted and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a man of deep faith and a student of the Bible throughout his life. He embraced life with a positive outlook and was always interested in and compassionate toward others. His friends and family will miss his sense of humor and ready laugh, but mostly they will miss his loving nature and generous spirit. One of his grandsons summed him up this way, "Each of us had a unique relationship with Jake and each of those relationships was special. To all of us however he was an example, an example of how to be kind, generous, and humble. He was an example of how to be a good father or grandfather, of how to be a good friend or acquaintance, of how to be a good person."

The Resurrection Liturgy for Jake will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, May 11, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1617 W. Pine St., Appleton, with Father Dennis Ryan officiating. Friends and relatives may visit at the church on Tuesday from 4 until 6 pm, and at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 am until the time of service. Interment will take place with a private service at Wolf River Cemetery, Fremont. At Jake's request, memorial gifts will be given to the Touchmark Employees Fund in recognition of their excellent care and service during his many happy years there.

His family would like to express their deep gratitude to Cherry Meadows Hospice in Appleton for the exceptional care that Jake received during his time there.

Jacob Wagner will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but we have been truly blessed by his presence in our lives and he will remain in our hearts and memories forever.