John August Wagner

May 27, 1925 - January 26, 2019
Rev. Msgr. John August Wagner was born on May 27, 1925, to John J. and Cecilia Wagner on the family farm near Poth, Texas. He passed away on Saturday, January 26, 2019, in San Antonio. He was the sixth of seven children and grew up working in the cotton and onion fields on the farm. As a small boy, he would often go upstairs in the family home, build "little bitty altars" and play priest. He attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, until it burned, then two years at Ridout, a small country school.. At the age of fourteen he entered St John's Seminary in San Antonio.
In May 1949, John was ordained a priest and celebrated his first solemn Mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and first assigned to St. Cyril and Methodius in Shiner. He then went to St. Philip in El Campo and returned to San Antonio to serve as parochial vicar from 1953-1958 at St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and priest-in-charge of the St. Anthony Shrine.
In 1958. Archbishop Robert E. Lucey assigned him to be executive secretary for the United States Bishops Committee for the Spanish Speaking. In this capacity, Fr. John was involved with the committee's lobbying in Washington and state capitals, and worked with Sen. Ted Kennedy on establishing the Peace Corps, Sen. Robert Kennedy on issues regarding migrant farm workers, and Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. Fr. John was involved in the founding of the National Council for the Spanish Speaking, the War on Poverty and the Bracero Program. When his assignment ended in 1966, Fr. John continued to utilize his skills acquired from his experience on the committee to revitalize parishes; he loved all those he was sent to shepherd.
Father John was sent to care for parishioners in Nixon, Smiley and Westhoff, followed by the Holy Family Parish in San Antonio shortly after. His next assignment was St. Joseph Church downtown with Holy Redeemer as a mission, where he later became pastor. For a number of years he served as Chaplin to the San Antonio Police Department, was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus and an active member of the KJT, a Czech catholic fraternal organization.
After almost ten years at Holy Redeemer, he relocated to serve as pastor at Pleasanton with its mission at Campbellton. Later he served as parochial vicar for Pleasanton and Jourdanton. During this time he also looked after the churches in Christine, Tilden, Charlotte and Campbellton. When Charlotte was designated a parish, he was assigned pastor.
After retirement he spent two years assisting Msgr. Michael Yarbrough at St. Matthews in San Antonio and continued on an as-needed basis. He said weekly Mass for the Presentation Sisters and was involved at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. During his stay at Casa de Padres, he enjoyed doing yard work and looking after flowers and plants. As his eyesight and health began to overtake him, Msgr. Wagner moved to Padua Place. He enjoyed his time at Casa and was provided loving care at Padua Place; the family is deeply grateful to the staff of both places.
Msgr. Wagner is survived by his youngest sister, Georgia Kotzur Laskowski, thirteen nieces and nephews, numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews and many dear friends. Five sisters predeceased him: Lillie Hosek, Sister Catherine Wagner, Agnes Stavinoha, Cecelia Hosek and Sister Gemma Wagner, along with nephew, Eddie Stavinoha, and niece Dorothy Boone.
Family and friends were always a priority to "Unkie", as the immediate family fondly called him. He was happy to baptize, marry, bury, and was always present in difficult times.
A Memorial Service and Rosary will be held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Poth, Texas on February 2, 2019 at 6:30 pm. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Matthews Church in San Antonio, Texas at 12:00 pm on February 4, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to a charity of choice or the Padua Place, 80 Peter Baque Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.