Christine Carol Wagner

Christine (Chris) Carol Wagner, age 62, passed away Thursday night, May 16, 2019 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN, surrounded by family after a year-long battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth, MN on Wednesday May 22 from 5-7:30PM. Funeral service will be held at 11am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth on Thursday May 23.

Chris was born in Albert Lea, MN on February 8, 1957 to John and Janit Sapa and was raised in Blue Earth, MN where she graduated from high school in 1975. In high school, Chris enjoyed being on the tennis and bowling teams and cheerleading squad. After graduation she attended Anoka Technical College where she received her certificate as a Medical Secretary. She married Robert (Bob) Wagner on March 11, 1978 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth. Chris worked at the local bakery and co-founded United Clerking Company as part of Wagner Company Auctioneers. She loved working in the family auction business and attending auctions. Bob and Chris moved to Zumbrota, MN in 1988 and Chris started working as an Administrative Assistant at Goodhue County Soil and Water Conservation District, a job she enjoyed working at for the past 30 years.

Chris loved spending time with her two children, Breanna and Austin, and her five granddaughters, whom she called “The Fab Five.” She enjoyed attending all of their activities and just spending time giving lots of snuggles and attention. She was extremely proud of her family and just hearing about them made her smile. She enjoyed traveling with Bob, baking, planting and tending to her flowers, decorating and taking care of the house and watching movies. She loved to be at home. She also looked forward to summer each year and loved to be outside in the sun, swimming, boating and riding on the ATV, which she called “the bull.” She was always filled with such a joy of life and loved being a wife, mother and most of all, a grandmother—a role she took such pride in. Everyone who knew Chris knew she was a hard worker and one of the kindest, happiest people you will ever meet. She would light up a room with her big smile and was always quick with a hug and a laugh, and never complained.

She is survived by her husband Bob Wagner, Zumbrota; daughter Breanna (Brian) Welke, Farmington, MN; son Austin (Amanda) Wagner, Edina, MN; five granddaughters, Evelyn, Nora, Lucy, Julia, Isabel; her mother and father John and Janit Sapa, Blue Earth, MN; sisters Vickie (Vern) Zabel, Blue Earth, MN Cheryl (Gary) Bell, Hudson, WI, Deb Sapa, Jordan, MN; brother Tim (Christine) Sapa, Bayfield, CO and 17 nieces and nephews.