Wagner, Phil

Phil Wagner, age 79, of Springfield, passed away on Wednesday, May 19, 2010.

He is survived by his

Special Companion : Ann L. Smith Children : Phillip J. Wagner (wife, Nancy (Kaplan)), Mary F. (Wagner) Keldermans (husband, Steven Keldermans), Theresa M. (Wagner) Fahey, Thomas J. Wagner (wife, Lisa Moscoso), Robert J. Wagner (wife, Ann Velasco), Michael J. Wagner (wife, Ellen (Biggs)) and Daniel J. Wagner (wife, Lisa (Thompson)). Grandchildren – Jill Wagner, Matt Wagner, Sarah Wagner, Katie (Keldermans) Tierney, Chris Keldermans, Anne Keldermans, Jonathan Keldermans, Claire (Keldermans) Kramer, Phil Keldermans, Lindsay (Fahey) Smith, Joel Fahey, Annalise Wagner, John Harry Wagner, Lizzie Wagner, Daniel Wagner, Luke Wagner, Alex Wagner, Becca Wagner, John Wagner, Michael Wagner, Annie Wagner, and Danny Wagner. Great-grandchild : Oliver Tierney.

Phil was born at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, the son of the late Harry and Frances (Wasilewski) Wagner of Athens, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his brother Jack Wagner of Nogales Arizona.

Phil was a graduate of Athens High School, 1948, Springfield Junior College, A.A., 1952, and the University of Illinois-Champaign, B.S.B.A., 1954. Phil was the founder and owner of several family businesses, including Wagner Office Systems, Office Coffee and Merchant Service Co-op in Springfield. He was the publisher of several books about the life of Abraham Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln: the Boy, the Man and Cliff Hangers and Down to Earth Sayings by Abraham Lincoln and Other Common Folk) and founded a museum that celebrated Lincoln’s successful effort to establish Springfield as the Illinois State Capitol (the Long Nine Museum in Athens). Phil also promoted a wide variety of public service projects over the years, including the designation and bicentennial celebration of the Lincoln Post Road between New Salem and Springfield (1976); the founding of Athens Community Park and supporting the Athens Public Library.

Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, Phil earned a national reputation as a dealer in cash registers, office furniture and filing systems. He invented and manufactured the rolling posting tray for side files. For years Phil and his company, Office Coffee, supplied coffee and cold drinks for all Illinois rest-stops during the summer holidays.

Phil was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, Korean War, and member of Post 32, American Legion and Life Member of the American G.I. Forum : Hispanic American Veterans. He was a Silver Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League of North America.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 until time of funeral mass at 7:00 PM on Monday, May 24, 2010 at the Holy Family Church in Athens. Mott & Henning Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements. Memorials can be made to the Athens Library “Heritage Section”