Aldis Wagner

Aldis built many things in his lifetime, and as a handyman he could make just about anything out of anything. But to the many who knew and loved him, Aldis Wagner will be remembered as a faithful man whose greatest work was the extended family he built through kindness and generosity.

As America began to recover after the first World War, the Wagner family welcomed a son, Aldis Godfrey Wagner. Born September 2, 1921, Aldis was taught the value of faith and hard work from his father right from his earliest moments. Together Aldis and his father worked the family farm in Bachelor, located in Mason County, Michigan. After graduating from Custer High School, young Aldis continued to work at the farm until the shadow of World War II fell over the nation. Aldis bravely left the security of his family, serving as a military policeman in the midst of hostilities in Japan. After fulfilling his duty to the United States Army, Aldis returned home to begin a family of his own.

Faith had always been central to Aldis' life, and it was through his church that he met his future wife. Geraldine Sommerfeldt was a regular member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Custer, the same church attended by Aldis and his family. He had met Geraldine as a young woman, even before his service overseas. Their friendship had grown stronger with time, and the couple married on June 4, 1947, when Aldis was 25. While he returned to his work at his father's farm, Geraldine continued to attend nursing school. Upon her graduation, the newlyweds decided to move to Milwaukee so Aldis could attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering. After his graduation, Aldis and Geraldine moved back to Mason County, where Aldis found work at Dow Chemical in Ludington as an electrician. The position agreed with Aldis. He remained with Dow for the next 30 years of his life, spending his final years there working as a cost estimator.

While his professional life offered him security, it was his time away from work that allowed Aldis to really nourish his family. He and Geraldine had a son, James, who became the source of much of Aldis' attention. Aldis taught his son how to make good use of his hands, and together they would use spare parts and pieces they had collected to fix or alter just about anything. James remembers when he and his father would work for hours and hours, just building and experimenting with all kinds of equipment. Aldis' specialty was recycling old bicycles, restoring them to good condition and then offering them to those in need. Even when Aldis and James were not together working on bikes, they kept in contact through their Ham-radios, which was one of the few technologies available before the age of cell phones and fax machines.

At church, too, Aldis would volunteer his handyman services. He was very active in the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scottville, where he readily offered his various skills. If anything needed to be fixed, he would do it. He even helped to decorate the church for special occasions or seasonal celebrations. Whatever the need, Aldis valued his faith and family above all else and remained completely devoted to serving them both.

Aldis faithfully honored his wife, Geraldine, until her death on February 6, 1986. In the months that followed, he met another wonderful woman who had also been widowed. Margaret Coyle soon became a close friend of Aldis, and the couple brought their two families together for their marriage on February 18, 1989. Even at the age of 67, Aldis welcomed the opportunity to embrace a new family. His new daughter-in-law, Catherine Olmstead, allowed him to revisit his childhood by spending time at her farm in Ludington. Aldis welcomed the chance to help around the farm, driving the apple truck during picking season or maintaining the migrant houses and grounds. He would even tinker with the farm equipment, striving to fix and fabricate it to make the operation more efficient. And with the extra parts of an old lawn tractor, Aldis made a "Doodle Bug" for his grandchildren to drive around the yard as he worked.

With Margaret's death in November of 2001, Aldis spent more time with senior groups, including one called "Prime Timers" that was based at Trinity Evangelical Free Church. It was Catherine, in fact, who introduced Aldis to a woman named Barbara "Lois" Johnson, whom he would marry on February 22, 2003. Lois and Aldis shared simple pleasures together, taking long walks, picnicking in the State Park, or simply watching the wildlife that would pass through their yard. Lois enjoyed the quiet strength Aldis possessed, for he was a kind and gentle man with an honorable heart.

Family and faith surrounded Aldis for all of his 82 years, and he continually found joy in making things with his own hands that they could all enjoy together. His unassuming generosity touched not one, but three families, giving many the opportunity to know and love a truly kind man.

Aldis Godfrey Wagner died on February 14, 2004. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Lois, his son James (Cindy) Wagner of Highland Village, Texas, his added children Paulette Johnson of Denmark, Pat (Paul) Larson of Tucson, Arizona, Janet Johnson and her friend Greg Cabot, and Catherine (Brian) Olmstead all of Ludington, James (Sharon) Coyle of Phoenix, Arizona, Patricia Coyle and her friend Charlie Shannon of Coloma, Carole (Allen) Ego of Baroda, and David (Linda) Coyle of Manistee, his grandchildren Phillip (Lisa) Wagner, Erik and Robert Wagner, Marianne Henricksen, Rebecca, Benjamin, and Nathaniel Olmstead, Abigail (Tom) Johnson, Cathi Tartavani, Andrea (Carlo) Allen, Lynette (Bryon) Dumdie, James (Christina) Coyle Jr., Allen (Leslie) Ego, Andrea and Tiffany Ego, Jason, Brooke, and Lindsay Steinberg, and Candice Coyle, 13 great-grandchildren, his brother Wilbert (Eleanor) Wagner, several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

The Celebration of Life service will be held for Aldis at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 21 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scottville, with his pastor, the Rev. Mark Rosenburg officiating. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville. Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Stephens Funeral Chapel in Scottville. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Redeemer Lutheran Church Organ Fund. You may read Aldis' life story, share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution by visiting his personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com. Arrangements are being cared for by the Stephens Funeral Chapel in Scottville, a Life Story Funeral Home.