PHYLLIS VIOLA WAGNER
Phyllis Viola Wagner of Ormsby passed away at Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James on April 17, 2024, at the age of 84. Visitation was held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 5 until 8 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continued on Wednesday from 10 until 10:45 a.m. at Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel. Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church. The clergy was Fr. Timothy Hall. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in St. James. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.sturmfh.com.
Phyllis was born August 23, 1939, in Darfur. She was the second oldest of 15 children to Sylvester and Marjorie Rathman. She attended school in St. James with her siblings. She was blessed with two daughters and one son. She married Francis John Wagner in Madelia on August 24, 1973. They shared a home in Ormsby where their door was always open for family and friends to visit and join them for a cup of coffee. In her younger years, she enjoyed camping and taking family on vacations. She enjoyed shopping, doing word searches, and visiting with family and friends. More than anything, she loved spending time with and doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Phyllis was a very strong woman and survived cancer and open-heart surgery. She was also a spitfire and always had a snappy comeback for everything. She will be greatly missed by her large family and many friends.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Francis Wagner; children, Christine (Craig) Grove, Marty (Mark) Johnson, and Michael (Robin) Thiessen; stepchildren, Tammy Wagner and Ginger Silvis; grandchildren, Cody Fedder, Kylee (Jordan) Garbers, Nicole (Kyle) Flohrs, Blake (Sarah Kate) Grove, Harlie (Brandon) Countryman, Jordan Gerdes, Ashley Gerdes, Sirena (Cody) Axford, Quinton (Destiny) Thiessen, Avery (Elizabeth) Thiessen, Terrell Thiessen, Landon Thiessen, and Marissa Silvis; 20 great-grandchildren; siblings, Gene (Caroline) Rathman, Ray (Janet) Rathman, Jim (Pat) Rathman, Larry (Marion) Rathman, Don Rathman (Tammy), Dick (Fay) Rathman, Sal (Berdell) Rathman, and Paula (Conrad) Dejong; brother-in-law, Richard Fastenau; and sister-in-law, Kathy Rathman.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Marjorie Rathman; mother-in-law, Tillie Wagner; siblings, John Rathman, Christine Rathman, David Rathman, Edward (Cynthia) Rathman, Douglas Rathman, and Marlene Fastenau; and grandchild, Dustin Fedder.
Published by St. James Plaindealer from Apr. 18 to Apr. 25, 2024.