Linda Wagner

Linda Mae Wagner, age 75 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:37 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2015 while visiting her daughter in Brighton, Michigan. Her death was unexpected, but of natural causes.

She was born on May 12, 1939 in Salem, Indiana to Cleland L. and Leota A. (Zaring) Settle. She graduated from Salem High School, and began her college career at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has lived in Niles since 1963, and owned and operated her custom drapery business – Sewing for the Home.

Linda attended Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles for many years, and recently has been attending the Pokagon United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, and of AARP. She enjoyed reading novels, antiques, and flower gardening. Much of her time recently had been spent catching up on books that she had wanted to read. She had traveled throughout the United States – often in a solo pursuit of a particular destination – and enjoyed dining-out at restaurants, and all that Veni’s Sweet Shop has to offer. She was a true adventurer when it came to seeing new places and exploring the small towns of the United States. One of her favorite destinations was Hilton Head South Carolina. After-hours from her drapery shop, she still enjoyed sewing and needlework, and had been handcrafting greeting cards, but her greatest interest was her family, and especially the grandchildren who brought her great joy.

On July 2, 1961 in Salem she married Walter William Wagner with whom she celebrated the forty-fourth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on February 23, 2006. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Jerry Settle and Wendell Settle.

Surviving family includes her children, Lorry Jo Wagner of Brighton, Michigan, Angela Joy Wagner of Westminster, Colorado and Christopher Mark Wagner of Niles; grandchildren, twins Aidan Montgomery and Nicholas William Wagner, Olivia Christine Wagner, Ian Joseph Wagner, and Malia Mae Wagner-Lopez; and Linda’s sister, Harriet Ann Sonnenberg of Leslie, Michigan and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves many dear friends who will miss her wonderful laugh.

The Memorial Service for Linda Wagner will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, 2015 at the Pokagon United Methodist Church with the Rev. Brenda Gorton of the church officiating. The family is gathering privately, earlier, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles to share memories and proceed to Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles for interment.

Contributions in memory of Linda Mae Wagner may be made to Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve in Niles, Michigan.