Howard L. Wagner

Howard L. Wagner was born in St. Louis on August 16, 1946 a son to Alfred “Sunshine” and Florence (nee Schatzle) Wagner. He died at Missouri Baptist Hospital on December 8, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. Howard Wagner served as the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk from 1986 until 2014. Additionally Wager  served as an Associate Judge from 1978 until 1986.  As Judge he helped establish Planning and Zoning as well as several Jefferson County Water and Sewer Districts.  He worked with Judges Ralph Krodinger and Elizabeth Faulkenberry to pass a Road and Bridge Tax in 1979 that funded improvements to the county highway infrastructure.  In 1992, he was the runner-up in the race to become the Missouri Secretary of State, losing by a slim margin.  Wagner was a veteran of the United States Navy and served a tour in Sadec, Vietnam between 1967 and 1968.  After being honorably discharged, he worked as a dispatcher for the De Soto Police Department and drove a school bus for the Athena School District (prior to becoming part of the De Soto School District).  Wagner, along with his father, Alfred, were small business owners and together operated Sunshine’s, a local market that sold gas and guns.  He was an avid gun collector.  He belonged to numerous civic clubs and organizations such as AmVets, V.F.W., De Soto Elks Lodge #689, the American Legion 40/8 club, the St. Louis Leadership Council, various local and state Democratic groups and was a District 3 Board Member for the United States Selective Service and two local bank boards.  Wagner was a graduate of De Soto High School and Columbia College and was inducted into De Soto High School Hall of Fame in 2016. He is survived by his wife Julie (nee Lewis) Wagner. Howard and Julie were married in DeSoto on April 22, 1967. He is also survived by his children: Wes (Jennifer) Wagner, De Soto, Aaron (Kate) Wagner, Festus, and Meagan (Greg) Westermayer, Festus; nine grandchildren: Harper, Rowan, Seely, and Sadie Wagner; Gracie, Libby, and Tilly Westermayer; and Madison and Haley Lewis; a brother-in-law Ken Queen and a life long friend Bryan Crady. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister June Queen.  As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to People Really Interested in De Soto’s Environment (P.R.I.D.E.), c/o Barb Dontrich, 429 Lembeck Lake Rd., De Soto, MO 63020.

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