Delbert Wagner of Burwell passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025, at CHI Health St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 86.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Calamus Trinity Methodist Church in Burwell, Nebraska. Pastor Doug Olson and Pastor Dave Busch will officiate. Interment will be in the Cottonwood Cemetery at Burwell. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Calamus Trinity Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Operation Christmas Child. Still Waters Funeral Parlor is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.stillwatersfuneralparlor.com
Delbert was born at the family home in Ft. Lupton, Colorado on December 9, 1938, to Hollis and Charlotte (Adams) Wagner. The family moved to Ulysses, Nebraska in 1944, where Delbert attended Ritchie School before moving to a farm near Burwell in March of 1953. Delbert graduated from Burwell High School in 1956.
In the fall of 1956, Delbert moved to Southern California where he learned the trade of machinist. In July of 1975, he returned to Burwell and opened Loup Valley Machining and Manufacturing. He spent several years working on farm repairs before closing the shop to the public to solely manufacture underwater electrical connectors which he designed. This business is currently known as SUBCONN.
On June 3, 1983, Delbert was united in marriage to Stella Young at Algona, Iowa. Following his retirement in 1992, Delbert got the “travel bug” and visited various countries. He also spent time cutting cedar trees on his folk’s place and friends’ pastures.
Delbert volunteered his talents to Christian organizations. He made wooden toys for children in other countries. In the past 10 years he has made over 42,000 toys; donating most of the toys to Operation Christmas Child.
Delbert accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at the age of 11. He actively read the Bible and studied God’s word.
Survivors include his wife, Stella Wagner; three daughters and sons-in-law, Tammy Parker and Heidi and Tom Hamm all of Riverside, California and Amy and Gilbert Price of Aurora, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Carolyn and Galynn Dexter of Ord and Darlene and Ralph Thibodeau of Santa Fe, New Mexico; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Sally Wagner of Omaha; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Eva Fitzgerald and son-in-law, William Parker.
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