Obituary for Richard "Dick" Wagner - East Idaho News
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Obituary

Richard “Dick” Wagner

April 30th, 2023 - May 30th, 2023









With sadness and faith, we announce the peaceful passing of Richard “Dick” Wagner, aged 90. Dick was born on April 30, 1933, to Lawrence and Mary Wagner in Spokane, Washington.

After completing his secondary education at Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Dick attended Seattle University and studied physics. After completing his education, Dick moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, having obtained a job at the Idaho National Laboratory. While working at the National Laboratory, Dick completed a master’s degree in physics from the University of Idaho.

Shortly after moving to Idaho Falls, Dick met the love of his life, Mary Ann Newman. The two were married in 1957 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and spent 66 years in loving matrimony. They raised their three children on Shasta Street.

Dick’s professional life at “the Site” involved work on Relap5, a computer program used to simulate and analyze the behavior of nuclear reactors under various conditions. As a testament to his profound intellect, Dick managed to explain the basics of this program to even the least mathematically inclined of his friends and grandchildren.

Both for Dick’s work and for pleasure, he and Mary Ann traveled the world together. Their travels took them to Germany, Russia, China, Slovenia, Italy, Korea, Czechia, and more.

Dick had many passions in his life, which he shared with those that he loved. He was drawn to the outdoors, and his loved ones all fondly recall memories of backpacking, mountaineering, kayaking, river rafting, hiking, skiing and more. His love of the mountains was passed on to children and grandchildren. Dick was also an amateur pilot; he obtained his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying to rural airstrips, particularly with his younger brother Kurt.

A stroke affected Dick’s memory for his final years of life, yet he never lost a witty sense of humor.

Dick is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; brother, Larry Wagner [Lucy]; brother, Kurt Wagner; sister, Carol Beier [Dick]; sister-in-law, Kathy Wagner; daughter, Karen Fox [Tim]; son, Steve Wagner [Jody]; and daughter, Judy Wagner-Jewell [John Gant]; as well as 9 grandchildren, Anna, Michael, Stephanie, Laura, Rebecca, Caroline, Patrick, Danny, and Alexander; and 11 great grandchildren, Grace, Joseph, Luke, Soren, Maria, Cameron, Anna Clare, Benson, Henry, Enzo and Siona.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated in honor of Richard Wagner’s life on June 23, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 905 S. Lee in Idaho Falls.

The family kindly thanks Hospice of Eastern Idaho.

We invite you to join us in prayer and remembrance as we commend Dick’s soul to the loving arms of the Lord.

“May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your arrival and lead you to the holy city Jerusalem. May choirs of angels receive you and with Lazarus, once poor, may you have eternal rest.”

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.

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