Mary Margaret Wagner, 84, of Burlington, died Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Addington Place in Burlington
Born August 21, 1942, at the family home in Washington County, Iowa, she was the daughter of Sylvester "Bud" Henry and Fern Elizabeth Mineart. On October 9, 1965, she married James "Jim" Edward Wagner at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fairfield, IA.
Mary Margaret retired from the Des Moines Country Public Health Office after 20 years as a public health nurse. She previously work for Dr. Breckner and Dr. Gundurm office, the WIC program in Des Moines County, taught CNA/Nursing Home In Service Programs at Southeastern Community College for over 20 years and she helped with the Nurturing Program at Young House. In her retirement she enjoyed helping others at Thielen Funeral Home and Prugh Funeral Service, as a funeral director assistant.
She was a 1961 graduate of Fairfield High School. She began her nursing training at Mercy Hospital in Burlington and received her Registered Nurses Degree in 1964 from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Ottumwa.
She was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, where she served as a Eucharstist Minister, Lector and was a RCIA sponsor. She volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, and also took communion to shut-ins and people in nursing homes. She was the first in Iowa to become certified as a Child/Passenger Safety Technician. She had a passion for helping individuals with car seat checks and always enjoyed attending conferences and workshops to keep up to date with child/passenger safety. She was awarded the Governor Safety Award. She was a master gardener. She enjoyed sewing, baking refreshments for concerts at Starrs Cave, working in her yard and volunteering at night camps at the Nature Center. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.
Survivors include three sons, Eric (Bonnie) Wagner of Independence, MO, Ben Wagner of New London, and Aaron (Shanna) Wagner of Burlington; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Wagner of Burlington; eleven grandchildren, Skylor, Nick, Michael, Evelynn "Evie", Alec, Isabell, Samantha, Amanda, Josh, Alaine and Anna; three sisters, Rosalie (Clarence) Kinney of Bloomfield, IA, Ann Drum of Crestview, FL, and, Martha Buckman of Excelsior Springs, MO; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her former husband, Jim, one son, Michael and two sisters, Carol Harrell and Marilyn Mineart.
Visitation will be from noon until 4:00 PM with the family to receive friends following a 1:30 PM Christian Rosary Service until 4:00 PM Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Mrs. Wagner will be 10:30 AM, Monday, November 2, 2026, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. Jake Greiner as the Celebrant. Nursing honors will be provided by the Great River Nurse's Honor Guard. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, West Burlington. A time of food and fellowship will be held in St. John Cafeteria following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Birthright, Divine Mercy Parish, and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.