Ellendale, ND-Memorial Service for Harley James Wagner, 70, of Ellendale will be held in the Spring of 2021.
Harley died November 13, 2020 at Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center.
Harley was born May 7, 1950, in Ellendale, ND to Benjamin and Lillian (Trautmann) Wagner. He worked on one of his uncle’s farms during the summers of his teenage years. Harley graduated from Ellendale High School in 1968. Following graduation, he served in the United States Navy for four years (March 1969 – January 1973) serving part of his time at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended Wahpeton School of Science graduating with an automotive mechanics degree. He worked as a mechanic at Muscatel Chevrolet in Fargo, ND moving to Aurora, CO in 1978 where he continued to work as a mechanic.
Harley was united in marriage to Judith “Judy” Waxvik Garceau on July 9, 1977 in Moorhead, MN. They had one son Michael, who joined Judy’s two daughters Rita and Holly. They moved back to Ellendale from Colorado in 2000. While in Ellendale he worked at Fargo Assembly, Trinity Bible College and Ellendale Public School. Following retirement, he drove the Dickey County VA van, taking patients to their medical appointments at the VA and various medical facilities.
Harley loved anything relating to cars and trucks. He accumulated many over the years. He spent retirement years meeting relatives and friends for coffee.
Harley is survived by his two daughters, Rita (Larry) Holmes and Holly (Mike) Jenkins both of Colorado. His sisters Priscilla (Don) Nies, Hutchinson, Kansas; Shirlene Wagner, Ellendale, ND, Jacqueline Ulstad, Fargo, ND; and one brother Timothy (Jeanine) Wagner, Wishek, ND; four grandchildren, Samantha Fisher, Kevin Jenkins, Christopher Jenkins and Kylie Jenkins and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Judy (10-24-2014), son, Michael James Wagner and sister, Bonita Wagner.
Carlsen Funeral Home of Ellendale.
Rest in peace my friend
It’s with a heavy heart that I have to say that I’ve lost my step~father to Covid-19. 💔 R.I.P Harley you will be missed but I know Mom and Michael are embracing you now at Heavens Gates. 💙 💙 💙
Harley was my good friend. And I’ll miss him. He was a good man,great father and husband. RIP Harley
My condolences to the whole family during these troubling and sad times. Rest in peace Harley.
So sorry to hear, Harley was always there to help my mom Esther Markuson and spoke very highly of him.
I am saddened by the loss of my friend, and classmate. Condolences to the families and friends of Harley.
Rest in peace!
Harley was a great person with an abnormal amount of character. I was privileged to have crossed paths with such an awesome person. May he rest in peace. Godspeed.
Harley my Buddy got to know you the last 3 years through the VA and we went to coffee many of times at Cenex . Sure gonna miss all the good talks we had through the years . I know you really miss your wife and son and now you can see them again . Hope your heavenly home is everything you dream it to be . Your friend Steven
So very sorry about the passing of Harley and for the loss you as a family are going through.Our prayers and sympathy to you all
Damn, this is not what I needed to read this morning, Harley and I talked very long times on my many four hour Seattle to Portland trips, I’m glad that I had that chance again two weeks ago, my friend my next trip home will be a lonely one with out those calls.
Your daily troubles are gone now, Rest In Peace, until we meet again.
Dean Zinter
May you rest in peace Harley now you are with Judy and your son. God bless you all.
RIP Harley. Prayers and Condolences to his Family.
Harley is my cousin. My Mom’s nephew.
Back in the ’60s he’d come to our farm during the summers and help out. He’d played a game with me. He’d have a six pack of Shasta pop, turn it upside down and he’d give me one if i could tell which one was empty. Ifvi couldn’t, I’d get a knuckle slap. I discovered the full ones concaved bottom was bulged out fron the pressure inside. When i caught on he decided to stop playing! Je was also good at getting me in trouble for laughing in church!
About a year ago we had lunch together here in Bismarck during one of his trips bring a veteran to the VA clinic. It was always a great time seeing him at family gatherings for luch in Hague, Ashley or at the restaurant in Ellendale.
He lost his wife, Judy, shortly after I lost mine, Wanda. He frequently spoke of her and the pain of losing his son back in Colorado. He missed them both so much.
Now, the waiting is over, you are with them, your parents, his sister Bonnie, Grandpa and Grandna and all who passed before.
If you happen to see Wanda, tell her hello from me and give her a hug when you greet everyone else.
Love you, cousin. Going to miss you so much…
So sorry to hear about Harley’s passing. He was a good friend since grade school. Rest in peace with your wife and son, and other family.
To Harley’s family, my heartfelt condolences. Memories: Harley’s birthday and my birthday are just two days apart. I remember our class singing Happy Birthday to both of us. We were friends throughout our school years and graduated together. The last time I saw him was at our class reunion a couple of years ago and it was SO GOOD to see him. He was really a great guy. Rest In Peace, dear Harley.
So sorry to hear of Harley’s passing. My condolences to the family. It was always good to visit with him when we bumped into each other over the years.
Rest In Peace Harley, your with your wife and son now. You will be missed Harley.
Harley was always so kind and friendly. I was lucky to get to know him. I offer my sympathy to all his family.
Sorry to hear about Harley passing away.
So sorry to hear of cousin, Harley passing away. Harley was a few years younger than me, but wishing we could have spent more time together, especially since he was interested in cars and had many of them and so did I. We will have a lot to talk about some day in Heaven. We did not get together very much with cousins and regret that. I am the son of his uncle Adam Wagner. Condolences to his family at this difficult time. Cousin Milton Wagner
Condolences to all of Harley’s family. Steve will miss the bantering in Cenex over coffee. Rest in peace, Harley.
Cousins: Shirlene, Jackie, Priscilla and Timothy, condolences from Carol Wagner Parrott, your cousin through your Uncle Adam. It’s strange but this past month I was wondering how I could contact Harley. I had some Wagner questions for him. From the remarks I read, Harley grow up to be a great guy and will be very missed by friends and family.
Harley was a year younger than I and I remember him from my childhood when I spent sleepovers at Uncle Ben and Lillian’s house with cousin Priscilla.
I would really like to renew our kinship. I hope one of you calls me at 307-674-8160. I live in Sheridan, Wyoming. Hopefully, I will be notified to attend Harley’s funeral in the spring so that I can see my cousins again.
May God bring you peace for the loss of your brother!
Harley was a dear friend and father figure of mine for almost 40 years. We’ve worked together, laughed and cried together. Was so sad to hear of his passing. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. I will sorely miss our conversations and will fondly remember the many good times we shared. I love you and will miss you Pops.
Sorry to hear of Harley’s passing. Harley was older than my brother or me, never the less a cousin through Gottfried and Pauline Bertsch. We are Pearl’s children. I remember all of you because we used to stop at Uncle Ben’s and Aunt Lillians. I guess I probably remember Priscilla, Jackie and Bonnie the most. I hear of things happening in your family through a cousin on the Trautmann side, Susan Biesheuvel Gimbel who lives across the alley from me in Hazelton.