As we look around here today, we are humbled and impressed at how much our Father must have touched your lives.  Whether is was building, repairing, listening, celebrating in your triumphs, or mourning your losses, he was always there for loved ones.

A parent's greatest fear is losing a child, but a child's greatest fear is losing a parent.  Losing our Father has been the most difficult thing each of us has had to endure.  Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.  Our father's name and legacy will live on with honor, respect, admiration, and fond memories.

To quote Abraham Lincoln 'If you are given 6 hours to cut down a tree, spend the first 4 sharpening the axe.' Dad always took the most logical approach with everything he did in life.  He would spend a little time thinking, and then within minutes the task was completed.  Dad would call this common sense, not realizing what came to him so easily was not so common.

In life, there is only one thing that a parent can do right, that is to teach their children the word of God and demonstrate their faith by living their own life as an example and according to God's purpose.  Proverbs 22:6 states "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Our father took his God given authority to direct, guide, teach, and discipline his children very seriously.

Words alone cannot express the influence our Dad has had on our lives.  Dad was hard working, strong, talented, fair, loving and deeply devoted to his family.  We stand here today in our father's honor, as witnesses and living proof, he truly was the hands and feet of Jesus.

God blessed our Dad with many talents because he knew Dad would be a good steward of his gracious gifts and would walk in humility.  There was not a thing Dad couldn't do; however, his favorites were teaching, craftsmanship, and giving.

Dad was teacher.  Teaching was not just our Dad's occupation, but defined who he truly was.  He changed the lives of many of his students by helping them discover and grow their own talents.  Dad's enthusiasm and compassion was contagious. As a result, his love for working with his hands has been passed on and will continue to live on for generations to come.

Dad was a craftsman.  Dad poured his heart into every project, no matter how trivial, which was clearly displayed in the creativity and perfection of his work.  A simple task, such as helping his children study for a history quiz, turned into a 2 hour lesson which included physics, bio-chemisty, and detailed artwork throughout the book.  Teachers were in awe of the quality of work we displayed in school projects.  We felt tremendous pride walking off the school bus with a three foot working catapult or winning first place for speed and design in a pinewood derby.

Dad was a giver.  There is NOTHING our father would not do when someone needed help.  He gave to his church.  He gave to his family. He gave to his friends.  He gave to strangers.  The most valuable thing he gave was his time.  Charles Darwin said "A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life."  Time was important to Dad.  He believed if you slept for more than 4 hours, you wasted your day.  There was too much work to be done, and too many people to help.  Hearing the pounding of a hammer or a saw making its cut at 2 o'clock in the morning was not abnormal at the Wagner home.

We will forever cherish all the fond memories we have had the privilege to have with Dad.  Our lives without Dad are going to be extremely difficult and have been forever changed.  Who will we call when we do not know how to fix something?  Who will we call when we want the unbiased truth?  Who will we call when we need an Arby's coupon?

God called Dad home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We may never know why it had to be now, but God must have had an extremely important project He needs done in heaven, and wanted it done right.  We thank God for the 66 years of life he gave to Dad.  It is now time for us to accept and say our final goodbyes on this side of heaven.  We now must demonstrate our faith and continue Dad's legacy through ourselves and his precious grandchildren.  We love you Dad and we promise to continue your good works and keep the legacy of your sweat, tears, and blood alive.

On behalf of our family, I would like to express our deepest thanks to everyone.  We have received an incredible amount of support in so many different ways.  It has truly been a blessing and provided us with much comfort.

When our granddaughter Tessa was little, she and her Mom, Keri, lived with us for a time.  One evening, Tess came to me with tears in her eyes and she said "Grandpa be mad".  I no longer remember what the infraction was but we went to the scene of the crime and she and her Grandpa sorted things out.  Those of you who knew Don for long doubtless experienced his impatience at one time or another, but you also know how quickly his good humor would be restored.

This ability to forgive and forget, however, did not extend to entities.  He recently bought a sandwich to go at McDonald's.  He was so outraged at the miniscule pieces of onion that were on it, that he mailed them back.  About a year ago, he got caught in a speed trap in Leechburg.  After researching the issue on the internet, he concluded that the measuring device used inaccurately recorded the speed of trucks.  He didn't get far pursuing that perspective through the legal system and our after-church breakfast group has graciously worked around his enduring boycott of Leechburg businesses.

Don's impatience manifested when driving. His ability to weave was legendary and he raised tail gating to an art form.  I do have to say, however, that he could judge the corners of his truck by 1/16th of an inch and there was never so much as a scratch from those events.  However, he received a true lesson in humility when we were in Ireland and he was constantly being passed by women.

In direct contrast to that behavior, his patience with a project was incredible.  He never considered himself to be creative, like a painter who can paint a picture on a blank canvas, but I disagree.  He had an amazing ability to picture end results.  His designs were elegant.  He could teach himself how to do anything and do it to perfection.  Whether it was building a structure, doing stonework, plastering the tray ceiling in our dining room, his talent was awesome.  A friend who visited our home once told me I was spoiled and she was right.

Don was not my first love, nor I his, but our relationship had the depth that is possible only later in life.  While I wish we could have had more years together, had we met when we were young, he would have scared me.  From what I've been told, he was pretty much of a rebel--but what can you expect from someone whose father's hobby was participating in rattle snake round-ups.  When Don & I were getting serious about marriage, I remember telling my brother that if Don took half as good care of me as he did of his tools, I would be all right.  I have been more than all right.  There was a palpable peace in our home.  No matter how long or difficult my day had been, it enveloped me whenever I walked in the door.  Don said he was there to put mischief in my life, but he added so much more.  Because of him I have the children and the grandchildren I never expected to have.  He had a deep tenderness and love for them.  He wasn't always physically demonstrative--that was not his upbringing, but his feelings were strong and they were real.  He had high hopes for his grandchildren and wanted them to live happy and very productive lives.  He had many life-long friendships.  Don had strong faith in God.  There were times when I was distressed about something.  He would hold me and tell me to give my cares to the Lord.  Don isn't gone, he's just in a better place.  I know he will be watching over all of us.