Robert Wagner

Robert Bob Wagner, 73, of Great Falls, passed away May 14, 2016 at Peace Hospice, surrounded by family and friends.Visitation will be Wednesday, May 18, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Bob was born on April 4, 1942 in Bottineau, North Dakota to Willard and Ilene (Hagen) Wagner. He was the oldest of his siblings, Elton and Marvel Wagner. Bob attended several rural schools in Bottineau County, North Dakota until the eighth grade. He graduated high school in Jamestown, North Dakota. Following high school, he attended technical school in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and then worked for Edo-Ware Instrument Manufacturing from 1966 through 1974 assembling aircraft instruments. In 1974, Bob moved to Gillette, Wyoming where he began work as an accountant for Petro-Line Gas, then later as an emergency services dispatcher for the Campbell County Sheriffs Office. Bob spoke fondly of his memories in nearly every place he worked or lived.In 1981, Bob moved to Great Falls with his family and retired from work. Between 1993 and 1999, he spent a great deal of time volunteering at Peace Hospice and gave comfort to many in need during their final hours. He also enjoyed fishing and was a loyal fan and avid supporter of the Great Falls Voyagers (formerly, the Great Falls Dodgers) baseball team, as well as the Americans hockey team. Bob was a regular attendee of home and away games for both teams, and for years was a known fixture in their fan base.Until shortly before his passing, he could list nearly every player on either team who were on the rosters during their sports career. From 1997 to 2015, Bob provided a billet home for the Americans and housed several players during this time. Several of whom he kept in regular contact with. During this time, Bob affected many more players than just those he housed and his caring and giving nature combined with his consistent optimistic view of life, touched and improved everyone he came in contact with.Bob is survived by his brother, Elton (Patsy) Wagner; niece and nephew, Sarah (Matthew) Fleming and David (Diane) Stafford; grand-nieces Kayla, Grace, and Brooklynn Fleming and Charlotte and Taylor Stafford.He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Ilene; sister Marvel Wagner; and nieces Jo Anna Wagner and Victoria Stafford.