WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Esther Marguerite Wagner, 99, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, Nov. 22, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village where she had resided since 2008.
Marguerite, as she was known to her family and friends, was born Jan. 22, 1912, in Mongo, Ind., to Alpharus and Zola (Pollock) Keefer. After graduating from Mongo High School, she attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Fort Wayne, Ind., where she received a nursing degree. Marguerite interned at several New York City hospitals before beginning her career as a nurse in Michigan. She worked at Coldwater Hospital, Sturgis Memorial Hospital and for several years she was a dental assistant to Dr. Claire Weidlea. She returned to Sturgis Memorial Hospital where she worked on staff until she retired in 1972.
Marguerite married Walter R. Wagner of Sturgis in 1938. They had two children, Mary Frances and Gloria Jean.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary (Bruce) Turner, of Marquette, Mich.; three sisters, June Tingley of Sturgis, Noma Ignatz of White Pigeon, and Carolyn Keplinger of Hartford City, Ind.; one brother, Charles Keefer of Sturgis; five grandchildren, Tamera (William) DuPras, Terri Turner, Trent Turner, and Travis (Heather) Turner of Marquette, and Tracy (Raphael) Bennett of Chicago; and seven great-grandchildren.
Marguerite was preceded in death by two brothers, one sister, a daughter, and a grandson.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at 4 p.m. in the Sturgis Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 69820 S. Nottawa Road, Sturgis, with Ronnie Marshal presiding.
Carney-Frost Funeral Home , Lagrange, Ind., is in charge of the arrangements. This obituary may also be viewed at www.carneyfrostfuneralhome.com.
