Norbert C. "Bert" Wagner

Norbert (Bert) Charles Wagner, Sr. was born in Glenshaw, PA on November 25, 1919.  He was the son of Louis P. and Mary C. (nee: Miller) Wagner, the sixth of ten children.  He died on September 4, 2021, at UPMC Saint Margaret Hospital in Aspinwall, following a serious fracture of his left leg.  He was currently living with his son, Tim, in Youngstown, OH.  He was eagerly anticipating turning 102 on Thanksgiving Day.

He initially attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA but dropped out just before his senior year.  After being laid off from numerous jobs, he realized that he needed to obtain a high school diploma, at least.  With a very strict warning from the principal of Shaler High School that no misconduct would be tolerated since he was now over 19 years old, he was able to enroll again and earn his diploma.

Bert had great admiration for the physical education teacher/ coach at Shaler which led to his desire to attend college.  With the help of his teacher/coach he was able to enroll at Slippery Rock State Teachers’ College (now University). His pursuit of a degree was interrupted by the start of World War II.  Bert enlisted in the Army Air Corps (later became the Air Force), serving in active duty from 1942-1946.  His primary role during the war was as a radar observer on a B-24 Liberator.  He remained in the Air Force Reserves into the 1950’s.  Back in college, he played football for the Rock, while working to earn money to pay his tuition himself.  He later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.  Over the years, he shared many humorous and inspiring stories about his educational endeavors.

His college roommate asked him to be his best man at his wedding.  It was there that he met his future wife, Elizabeth L. Protz.  They married on August 31, 1946, at Saint Clement Catholic Church, in Tarentum, PA.  This year would have marked their 75^th wedding anniversary.  A memorial Mass for “Betty” was held on that day at the Cathedral of Saint Columba in Youngstown, OH and a quiet dinner was shared with his son with whom he lived.  His wife died on April 21, 2004, while in hospice care at home, with Bert and Tim as her primary caregivers.  After their marriage they resided in Creighton, PA at the home where Mrs. Wagner had lived since the age of 5.  It was there that they raised their 3 sons, Lt. Col, USAF (Ret.) Norbert C. Wagner, Jr. (wife Janet) of Roseville California, and twins, Thomas M. Wagner of Florida, and Timothy L. Wagner, of Youngstown, where Bert lived for the past 20+ years.  

When his parents decided to sell their “summer home”, a 50-acre farm, in Grove City, PA, the decision was made to buy it, since being a teacher allowed the family to live there during the traditional summer break from school.  Bert planted a massive garden, cultivating everything from asparagus to zucchini, as well as an apple orchard, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.  The family, under the tutelage of Mrs. Wagner, canned, froze and preserved upwards of 2000 quarts of fruits, vegetables, and sauces every growing season.  Their sons had the opportunity to assist a neighboring dairy farmer with baling hay, feeding the cows, and doing numerous chores with the reward of as much unhomogenized milk as they could drink. There were many adventures over the years, including caring for an injured fawn, building a treehouse, digging a swimming pond and spontaneous excursions to innumerable events and points of interest.  The farm was sold last year, but remains in the family, which pleased Bert tremendously.

He taught for 35 years at Allegheny Valley School District, Springdale High School, mostly as a Health and Physical Education teacher.  He coached football, sponsored the golf team, refereed basketball, and prior to buying the farm, conducted the summer day camp in Harmarville, PA.  Even after retirement, he regularly served as a substitute teacher.

He was a founding member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Creighton, PA.  The original worship site was a barn that Bert and a crew of parishioners converted for use as a church.  He was a Knight of Columbus (the oldest member of the newly consolidated council in the Allegheny Valley), active with Saint Vincent DePaul Society, served on parish council, and as a lector. Even long after moving to Youngstown, Bert would return to Holy Family every Wednesday in November to read the names of several hundred deceased individuals as a commemoration of All Souls. Because of his years of teaching, he was a master of the many complicated ethnic names that were part of the prayer service.  But his greatest sense of pride came as the unrivaled Potato Pancake King for many years at Holy Family’s famous Lenten Fish Fries.  He would flip the delicacy for hours at an outdoor cooking unit regardless of the weather.

Bert was also actively engaged in politics, in part due to his wife’s history as a legislative aide to Senator Frank Geltz.  As two of only 6 Republicans in the overwhelmingly Democrat municipality, Bert and his wife served as Republican precinct committee people.  Together, they were closely involved in the campaigns of numerous political officeholders.  Bert’s interest in politics never diminished as he aged.  He read the newspaper completely and followed the intricacies of our local, regional and national politics until the very end.

In addition to being an avid reader, Bert enjoyed doing various puzzles, especially cryptograms and crosswords.  At the age of 95, with the encouragement of his son, Tim, an award-winning artist, Bert began painting.  The Austintown Senior Center Art Class, under the guidance of Susan Jacobs, became the highlight of his week until the pandemic halted in person instruction. His oeuvre was mostly landscapes, animals and birds.  Additionally, he enjoyed visiting museums, historical sites and outdoor vistas.  He never tired of going on an adventure or just to visit family and friends throughout the country.

Especially close to his heart was the Seniors’ Group of Our Lady of Sorrows (formerly Saints Cyril and Methodius) and their monthly luncheons.  Even with the closure of SSC&M, he cherished the occasional Sunday brunches organized by the informal cluster of former parishioners, the Roaming Catholics, following Mass.  For the past several years, he attended the Cathedral of Saint Columba in Youngstown.

Bert is survived by his three sons, as well as a grandson, Ryan T. Wagner (Regina) of Chardon, OH, and their twin sons, Joshua and Tyler.  Two sisters survive, Martha McCullough of Columbus and Zita Bronowiecz of Cabot.  With 37 nieces and nephews, just on his side of the family, and 23 on his wife’s side, it is a huge family.  Following his mother’s death at 102 ½, a Wagner family reunion was held at “The Farm”.  Almost 350 people attended.

In addition to his parents, his brothers, Jim, Louis and Theodore, and sisters, Marie Claus, Mildred McNally, Augustine Slocum and Rita Blumer predeceased him.

Visitation 2-4 and 6-8 PM, Sunday, September 12, 2021, at Duster Funeral Home, 347 10^th Avenue, Tarentum, PA  15084, 724-224-1526.  Christian funeral Mass will be at 12:30 on Monday, September 13, 2021, at Guardian Angels Parish, Holy Family Church, 787 Freeport Road, Creighton, PA 15030 with Rev. Miro Stelmaszcyk, officiating.  Please meet at the funeral home by 11:00 am or directly at the church after 12 noon. Knights of Columbus will hold a Prayer service in the funeral home Sunday at 6PM. Per the family’s request, we strongly encourage following COVID-19 protocols, including masking and social distancing. VISIT: dusterfh.com 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial tributes be sent to the Elizabeth L. and Norbert C. Wagner Legacy Fund, c/o Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Advancement and Community Engagement, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Checks should be made payable to Carnegie Institute, this fund was established in 2019 in honor of Bert's 100th birthday and supports the educational, outreach and other programs of the 4 Carnegie Museums, of which Bert was a strong supporter.