Elizabeth Wagner

Elizabeth J. Wagner, age 85, of Stevens Point, WI and formerly of Orland Park and Monee, IL passed away August 9, 2015 with her family at her side. Elizabeth (Liz or Betty) was born in Chicago, IL on September 20, 1929 to Karl J. and Mary Claire (McCormick) Jensen. She grew up in Oak Lawn, IL and spent several years in Nebraska with her grandparents. Elizabeth married Russell T. Wagner on August 27, 1949 in Chicago, IL. They started their family in a small home in Oak Lawn which they quickly outgrew. They moved to Orland Park where they spent many years raising their five children. She loved her family and friends. Her favorite times were spent playing cards and games with them. She also enjoyed ceramics, knitting, sewing, feeding her family and swimming in the family pool. She also enjoyed traveling around the country in a station wagon stuffed with children and camping gear. This time gave the family an extra sense of closeness while learning to love the outdoors. Elizabeth found camping in a trailer with only Russell to be more relaxing. Her grandchildren were the light of her life and they had a special name for her "Gram Cracker", which over the years has been shortened to "Cracker". Elizabeth is survived by her five children, Kathleen (Oscar) Hannig, Susan (Douglas) Mundell, James (Judith), Deborah and Dan (Diana). She has 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a special sister-in-law Dorothy Wagner and four nieces and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Russell, her parents, a brother-in-law William and a grandson Thomas. Mom always requested to be given flowers before she died so that she could enjoy them. So in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Alzheimer's Association. Visitation to celebrate her life will be on Friday, August, 15, 2015 from 3-9 p.m. at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. She will be Lying in State Saturday, August 15, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13150 S. 88th Ave., Orland Park, IL. She will be laid to rest beside Russell, her husband of 56 years, at Orland Memorial Park Cemetery. Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400