Don was raised in Bates County and graduated from Butler High School Class of 1948. Following his marriage he was drafted into the United States Army and immediately left to serve for a short while before returning home to his family in Bates County. He then purchased a farm near Horton where he has lived ever since. Don drove a school bus for Metz School district, drove the road grader in Metz Township for several years, and operated a bulldozer, as well as farming and raising pecans. Don was an avid bowler, he loved watching Kansas City Royals baseball on T.V., and going fishing at Roaring River.
Survivors include one son, Steve Wagner and his wife Betty, Broken Arrow, OK; two daughters, Debbie Hoenshell and her husband Wyatt, Richards, MO, and Donna Nichols, Joplin, MO; four grandchildren, Shawn Hoenshell, Kelly Eaton, Amanda Merkel, and Zachary Nichols; six great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Jean he was preceded in death by one brother, Willard Wagner, two sisters, Florence Stanfill, and Shirley Little.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Norm Conklin officiating. Interment Military Honors will follow in Balltown Cemetery in Horton.
The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.
