Robert L. Wagner

Robert L. Wagner, of La Grande, died Tuesday, January 30, 2024 in La Grande at the age of 95.

Robert, known as Bob, was born on August 16, 1928 in Walla Walla, Washington, one of four children born to Glenn and Martha (Martin) Wagner. When he was four years old, the family moved to La Grande where he was raised. After graduating from La Grande High School with the class of 1946 he served in the U.S. Army as part of the Occupation Army in Japan. On August 17, 1950 he married Audeen Alsup in La Grande. They were married for 72 years.

Bob graduated from Oregon State University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. After a brief stint at Alcoa, he worked at North American Aviation designing experimental aircraft. He moved from North American to Boeing, working in the space program designing and building the Saturn V rocket, and later the Super Sonic Transport. He finished his career with the Department of Defense in contract compliance. His career took him from California to Washington, Louisiana, and Alabama before retiring in North Bend, Washington. He and Audeen moved to Vernonia, Oregon, where they lived for 25 years. After Audeen's death in 2022, Bob returned to La Grande to be near family.

He was active in Boy Scouts when his sons were young. He enjoyed woodworking, from building kitchen cabinets and fine furniture to tiny wooden puzzles and Christmas ornaments. He remodeled almost every house he lived in and, with Audeen as his partner, built a beautiful home in North Bend. They enjoyed camping and later RVing, visiting the lower Canadian provinces and every state except Hawaii. They loved Dixieland jazz; Bob was the best dancer! In Vernonia, Bob was very active in the rebuilding of the town after a catastrophic flood. He served on the Health Center Board of Directors where he was instrumental in the construction of the new health clinic.

Survivors include his children Janne Potter of Cornelius, Oregon, Chris (Chuck) Gray of Imbler, Oregon, Craig (Carolyn) Wagner of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and Will Wagner of Hamburg, New Jersey. He had six grandchildren: Nicholas Potter, Leslie Lehmann, Becky Anderson, Karen Gray, Victoria Proppe, Alli Wagner, and eight great grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Audeen, his parents, Glenn and Martha Wagner, and three siblings, Betty Grimsrud, Bill Wagner, and Mary Ethridge.

Donations in memory of Bob Wagner may be made to the Vernonia Health Center, 1005 Cougar Street, Vernonia, Oregon 97064. Online condolences may be left on his tribute page at www.danielsknopp.com.

A celebration of Bob's life will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Island City Hall from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.