Grace D Wagner

Middleton—Grace (Mary) Dooley Wagner passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017. She was born April 26, 1929, in Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to George and Rose (Harrington) Dooley.  She was raised on one of the old Dooley farms west of Janesville and graduated from old Janesville High School in 1946.  Her education continued at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950, a Master of Arts degree in 1955 and continued her Ph.D. studies.  Her specialty was French Literature.Grace was married June 12, 1954, at St. Paul’s University Chapel Madison to Marvin Arthur (Jim) Wagner, originally from Tomah, Wisconsin.  The couple taught in suburban St. Louis for four years.  They moved to Middleton, Wisconsin in 1958, where Marvin was a career school administrator.  Their daughter, Lauren Ann was born in 1959, in Madison.For the last 25 years of her 40 year teaching career, Grace taught at West High School, Madison.  Among the various professional accolades that she received, she was awarded the Senator Kohl Fellowship the year of its inception. The Senator spoke most clearly when he said, “Love is what the students received from Madame Wagner”.  Over the years, Grace was a lifelong member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Pi Lambda Theta.Grace devoted many volunteer hours to Olbrich Gardens, Madison and in Middleton.  Grace was active in the League of Women Voters, Opti-Mrs. and the Middleton Civic Choir.  She continued to make many new friends as she grew older, but she kept her long-term friendships too.  Her Christmas letter was looked forward to around the globe.  She and Marvin traveled extensively and annually for many years, to Maui.  Grace cared deeply for her family, her home, her cottage and all things French.  She had immense energy and optimism that grew from her spiritual life and her positive attachment to people.Awaiting her in the Hereafter are her parents and family, her predecessors and her dear husband, Marvin, her beloved daughter, Lauren and husband Randy.  Still on earth is her only grandchild, Christine Nicole Larson, a second cousin Carolynne (Victor) Melo of Madison, a considerable family of Wagners in Tomah, Sheboygan and Waukesha, Wisconsin, Phoenix, Denver and Eugene, Oregon.  Her greatly loved friend, Conni Hofeldt-Rowe, her former student who became as a second daughter, along with her husband, Bruce and their children; also survive Grace as true family in heart.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Ave., Middleton, WI, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2017, with Father Brian Wilk presiding.  Entombment will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Madison. A visitation will be held on Wed., May 31, 2017, at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. and on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.            Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson WestFuneral & Cremation Care 7435 University Avenue (608)831-6761