Sarah Wagner

Sarah Ellen Wagner, age 92, of Jenison, and formerly a long-term resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, and Sebring, Florida, passed from earth to Heaven on Sunday, December 4, 2022, with her family by her side.

She was born as Sarah Ellen Simmons on May 22, 1930, to Lloyd and Lucille Simmons in Troy, Missouri. Sarah was fond of horseback riding and enjoyed being outdoors with her dad. She graduated from Troy Buchanan High School and St. John’s Mercy School of Nursing in St. Louis. Sarah subsequently joined the U.S. Air Force and served her Nation as a Registered Nurse assigned to Sampson Air Force Base in New York during the Korean Conflict. She attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant, met and married her husband and life partner, Mr. John Wagner, was honorably discharged and together they re-settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, to raise their family.

While in Battle Creek, Sarah continued to serve others as a hospital operating room nurse, and after raising three children, she served as a nurse in a doctor’s office for many years. She retired to Sebring, Florida, with John, and together they enjoyed many happy years until he preceded her in death in 2020 after 66 years of marriage. Sarah volunteered in the Lions Clubs and she was a past President of the Lioness Club, focusing on increasing resources to help the blind.

Her legacy lives on through her children, Kathleen (Ken), Karen (Kevin), and John (Jennifer); seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 9, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Parish 2700 Baldwin St., Jenison, with the Reverend Phong Q. Pham presiding. Interment will follow at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Thursday, December 8, from 6-8 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 8 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Memorial contributions may be made to The Legacy Foundation of Sunset Communities at sunsetcommunities.org/donate (memorial gift) where Sarah very much enjoyed the last two years.