Paul Russell Wagener

Dear Friends, How do you celebrate a life of over 102 years? Dad was born in Chicago Illinois to parents Estelle and Frank Wagener and was the oldest of three children. He led an idyllic childhood with his brother Bob and sister Jane. Dads father was in the advertising business. Dad was a world war II veteran serving in the US Navy as a Lt. on an LST Carrier from 1942-1946. He told me they saw action 364 times out of 352 days in one year. His time in the war haunted him and he never spoke about the war until recently. He dictated his war memories to my cousin Nancy Arguedas and worked on a WWII film documentary with my late husband Jeff Blonder. He often shared a story of the time he was invited to lunch by a German Family in Germany. While eating their son arrived to have lunch with them. He was a German soldier. Dad said that he then realized that all people are the same; our circumstances often dictate our behavior. Mom and Dad were married on April 3, 1948 by his Uncle Monsignor John Wagener. Married for over 72 years together they resided in Chicago, Glenview, Evanston, Wilmette and Glencoe Illinois; Madison Wisconsin, Dallas and Kennesaw Georgia and Deland and Sanford Florida. Their relationship was a true love story to the end. Dad was an artist and a scholar with a BA Degree in Philosophy from Loyola University. Always a devote Catholic Dad was encouraged to join the priesthood while in college however decided against it. Dad said a daily rosary up until the time of this passing. Two days before his death one of the aides at the nursing home wrapped a rosary on his bedrails knowing that he was a man of great faith. Dad was a renowned artist specializing in sculpture, watercolor and chalk. His works were represented at the RH Love Gallery in Chicago. He was artist in residence at the University of Wisconsin and is a former member of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art in Chicago. His solo exhibitions included R.H. Love Gallery, Cudahy Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin, Richard J. Daley College Gallery and Harper Community College Gallery. Juried exhibitions include National Drawing competition (finalist), Ringling Museum, Western Artists Annual, Denver Art Museum, Mississippi Corridor Print and Drawing Competition, Iowa Art Museum, National Drawing Exhibition, Springfield Illinois Art Association, the Figure 01 Armory Art Center, The Nude 2002 and The Nude 2003 and the National Show Expressions of a Lifetime. Juried regional shows in Illinois include Artists of Chicago and Vicinity Show, the Art Institute of Chicago, Open Spectrum of Chicagoland Art Exhibit, Skokie Fine Arts Commission (Highest Award for Sculpture), Adler Cultural Arts (Award of Excellence), The Oak Park Art League (Cablevision of Chicago Award), The Suburban Fine Arts Center (Award of Excellence), the Chicago Botanical Garden Annual and the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts (Annual Harriet Bitterly Award). Also included are the North Fulton Regional Exhibition (honorable mention), Fine Arts Society of Kennesaw (Best in Show and First Place for Drawing), Atlanta Artists Center (Best in Show) Art of the Golden Generation, Kennesaw State University (First Prize 2002 and 2003). Dads worked for World Book Encyclopedia where he was an Art Director. His drawings may be seen under every President of the United States as well as many additional areas in the encyclopedia. He was an avid gardener designing and building an authentic Japanese Garden behind their home in Dallas Georgia. Dad love gardening and plants of any kind. He was Mensa and could quote anything from Greek History to Japanese, Culture to Sports and loved to talk and be with people. Dad was always humble. He loved life and made the best of every situation. He called his last moments in the nursing home “a little slice of heaven” and loved the people there and his care givers. Dad was President of his HOA Board at their condo in Glencoe and was active in the Evanston Concert Ballet Company. Dad began doing liturgical art and his artwork is on display at St. Vincent’s Church in Dallas, Georgia where his Icons and Byzantine Cross are exhibited. Sadly, he was never able to complete his drawing of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He never felt himself worthy to draw the Mother of Jesus. There is no doubt that he is basking in her presence as I write this. Dad was unlike no other man, a wonderful father and husband, kind to everyone he met. No doubt he will be sorely missed by so many of us as he touched us all. Services are pending at this time. Please check back at a later date. The family of Paul Russell Wagener invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in his loving memory.

Paul Russell Wagener

January 13, 1918 - May 14, 2020