Karene (Christensen) Wagner

Karene Wagner, 86, passed away the afternoon of May 3, 2022, at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell, Wyoming.  She was born October 1, 1935, the second daughter of four girls, to Don and Elaine Christensen on the family farm in Frannie, Wyoming.  She graduated from Deaver High School in 1953. Then went on to college at Eastern Montana College receiving a degree in Education.   She taught school for a brief time in Fromberg, Montana before she married John Richard Wagner on June 2, 1956, in Billings, Montana. 

They started their lives in Billings where their first daughter Melody and sons Daren and Rob, were born.  When they felt the call to return home, they moved back to Deaver, Wyoming. They then welcomed their daughter Diki to the family. She worked at the Trailways cafe with her mother in-law for several years and eventually managed it. Many thanksgivings were spent at the cafe serving meals to the regulars. After her children were grown, she worked as a librarian at the Lovell Library for several years before she retired.

Karene was a very social person and actively involved in the Frannie-Deaver Community.  She played the piano and organ for the Deaver Methodist Church services, weddings, and funerals.  Karene also enjoyed accompanying her grandchildren on the piano for their various music performances.

Karene had many hobbies including sewing, playing cards, gardening, shopping, and most of all making music. She loved music and enjoyed singing and playing piano with her family. If she wasn’t playing music herself, she was attending musical performances and plays.

Karene is preceded in death by her husband Dick, daughter Melody, and sisters Jerry Underwood and Donna White.  Karene is survived by children Daren (Diane) Wagner, Rob (Coleen) Wagner, Diki Davenport; sister Tara (Wayne) Wagner; her eight grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.

Services will be held May 14, 2022, at 10 am at St. John’s Lutheran church in Lovell Wyoming.  Graveside services will be held afterward at the Deaver Cemetery. There will be a reception and lunch at the Deaver community center.

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