Patrick Wagner

Patrick Craig Wagner was ushered into heaven on the morning of Jan. 9, 2024 with his wife by his side and his daughter nearby after spending precious time the previous day with his loving family.

Patrick was born March 28, 1955 to Arthur William and Georgia Grace (Thompson) Wagner. He grew up on the south side of Sterling in the house that his parents built after WWII. Patrick had an interesting childhood, cutting meat at the age of seven with his dad at the family-owned grocery store, Town and Country Market, attending antique auctions with his mother and sister, Sheryl Ann, hunting, trapping and fishing with his brother, David Michael.

His real passion was growing things, planting his first garden at the age of 12. Patrick loved listening to music. Payday at his first job as a foreman at the sugar beet factory meant purchasing the latest album of his favorite group or artist. Patrick enjoyed cruising the streets of Sterling in his slightly beat-up Buick. It was at the stoplight in front of 7-11, where he boldly asked the red-head in the Ford next to him if she wanted to ride in a real car. She did and Patrick and Lucinda Rae Gibbs were married under a full moon on Aug. 9, 1976. He and Cindy purchased acreage south of Haxtun, where they moved and renovated the Burlington Northern railroad depot into the home where they would raise their four children.

The family lived a homesteading lifestyle with animals and large gardens while Patrick continued to hunt, fish and trap. Patrick was owner/operator of Unique Landscapes, a lawn and tree care, landscaping company which, with the addition of greenhouses, became Little Prairie Gardens. Patrick was a meat cutter/department manager at the local grocery store before retiring to once again garden full time.

He is survived by his wife Cindy; children Damien and wife Kamie, Mariah and Tyler, Nathan and wife Amanda and Aaron and wife Michelle; grandchildren Krissy and husband Jesse, Kaden, Kaylee, Korbin, Kelton, Atticus, Amberly and husband Cody, Valarie, Trenton, Daphani, Troidon, Zavian, Zailen, Shelby and Greysen (Nathan was able to tell his dad that a 16th weasel-faced grandchild would be added to the Wagner clan this year); great-grandchildren Barrett, Ivy, Abram and Stevie; and sister-in-law Ardis Wagner.

Patrick is preceded in death by his parents and siblings.

After a private family service at his beloved homestead, Patrick was laid to rest in a handmade cedar coffin wearing a new flannel shirt and his denim bib overalls with candy in the front pocket. He is buried next to the garden he cultivated out of the native Buffalo grass prairie. Patrick's greatest legacy is that he is a born-again Christian, and due to his influence, his entire family will see him again in eternity. Hallelujah. Amen.