Growing up, Christmas was a very special time.  Our parents taught us the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  But with two parents that were both very competetive and perfectionist, you can only imagine the time spent on decorating and ensuring their children had a big Christmas.  The 4 of us would be so excited, Todd more than the rest of us.  Our tree always had to be flocked.  As a child that process seemed to take forever.  We were glad when they invented the cans of spray snow, which later replaced the flocking process.  Decorating was always so much fun, it was a time to reimenise about the memories of each ornament.  They always went over the top and saved all year long for Christmas.  Dad would work extra side jobs to ensure it would be big.  They always hid the "special" presents and try to lead us to believe we had opened everything, only to surprise us with more.  Christmas morning, we would wake up at 3 o'clock am and go and wake up mom and dad.  Please, can we go open gifts now.  They would ask for 30 more minutes of sleep.  We would go back our room and repeat this process every 30 minutes until 5 o'clock am, when dad would finally get up.  We never realized they were up until 2 o'clock am setting up the gifts!  It was forbidden for anyone to go out to the living room and get a sneak peak of the tree and gifts.  Dad wanted to capture that moment on camera.  Although, I am pretty sure Todd and Jason snuck out there quite often.  So the 4 of us would have to wait in my parents room while dad went out to the living room to set up the video camera and get the lighting just right.  Dad never set the camera up the night before, and we would be stuck in the room in anticipation as he would eww and aww about all the presents under the tree.  It would take another 30 minutes for him to set up the camera.  It felt like hours as a child. Then, when dad was finally ready, we had to line up, youngest to oldest.  I was always first!  We would walk down the hallway and into the living room.  Dad would be smiling behind the camera and would capture the moment.  Mom was always sitting on the couch with her legs and arms crossed smiling.  They made our Christmas' memories so special for years to come.  Over the years, things changed quit a bit.  My more recent memories of Christmas is the anticipation of my own children excited to drive to Pennsylvania on Dec. 26th every year.  We would arrive to the greeting of Grandpa.  He always had candles lit and all the candy dishes around the house were full.  He would come down to the van and carry our luggage up.  Kathy would cook us dinner.  Then, we wait for my siblings to arrive.  We would sit around in the same big living room and open our presents.  Kathy became the photographer over the years.  She was always prepared and we never had to wait 30 minutes for her to set up.  I love you dad and thank you for making Christmas such a special time over all the years.

Back in the day the roads had less people and it was a time when cars and motorcycles traveled a little faster.I had a 1959 Triumph  motorcycle and Don had a 1970 Triumph.In that period of time Triumph was the bike to have.The Factory held the land world speed record at Bonneville salt flats.Dons bike was named a Bonneville Triumph for that reason.One day my brother Don called me to go to the Triumph shop to pick up his motorcycle that he had left for service.We rode up to Kittaning to get it in his Chevelle Supersport.I remember there was a long waiting list for those cars.They were saleing for way more than list price.They were simply fast.When Dons bike was pulled out at the shop,Don said what do you want to ride back home, the bike or car.I said I,ll take the bike and this is the last time you will see me till we get to Dads place.You see in those days the expressway wasn,t built yet.We had to use old route 28.It was a winding road full of bends.Perfect for motorcycles.I was really moveing along,passing cars and splitting lanes  and covering ground.Not once when I kept looking back did I see that  SS Chevelle,all the way to Freeport.I relaxed a little as I was going up Freeport hill when all I heard was the roar of that big motor passing me by.When I got to Mom and Dads place brother Don was leaning against the hood of his car.He simply said what took you so long?Those were the good old days growing up.
 Howd

After my first year at the University of Pittsburgh, I decided I no longer wanted to be a chemistry major.  I had no idea what I wanted to do, aside from knowing I wanted to be as successful as my parents were in their lives.  Dad told me he read an article on the need for women in computer engineering.  So dad went with me down to Pitt to register for my fall classes.  He insisted I take computer engineering if I wanted to get a job right out of college.  Needless to say, taking Physics & Engineering without taking the calculus pre-requisite was extremely difficult and in the Spring with dad's advice, I stayed in the computer field, but switched to a computer science major.  It is to my dad's credit that I have had a very successful career in the Information technology field over the past 12 years.  Another example of Dad always having the answers.  The photo attached is my undergraduate college graduation day with a B.S. in computer science.  This I knew was one of the proudest moments for Dad.  Thank you dad for always guiding me when I needed it and being proud when I earned it!

By Jerry Vondas

Published: Sunday, September 16, 2012, 12:31 a.m.
Updated: Monday, September 17, 2012

It was Donald Wagner’s quest in life to learn something new every day,

John Tomiczek, a fellow industrial arts teacher for Burrell School District, recalled Mr. Wagner as a tremendous craftsman, who could get excited learning to operate a piece of new machinery, repairing an old piece or making a new friend.

“In all the years we’ve known each other, I found Don to be fun,” said Tomiczek, a resident of Lower Burrell. “He never had any airs about him and he always concerned himself for the welfare of others. I always considered him to be my brother.”

Donald L. Wagner of Allegheny Township died on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, in his home. He was 66.

Jason Lee Wagner of Hyde Park, Westmoreland County, recalled what it was like growing up with a father who always made himself available when it came to his children.

“Our family always came first,” said his son. “No matter how busy he was, he took the time to attend our school events and saw to it that we attended Sunday school at the Allegheny Presbyterian Church (Allegheny Township) where he had served as an elder. And when necessary, Dad would do repairs at the church.

“He remodeled our home twice and also built an addition when he thought we needed more room,” his son added. “He inspired us to do well in our studies and in the years to come to become valuable citizens in our communities.

“Seeing his enthusiasm as a teacher when we were growing up was one of the reasons I followed him in becoming a teacher at Apollo Ridge Elementary School.”

Born and raised in Natrona Heights, Donald Wagner was one of three children of Leo J. and Florence B. Koedel Wagner.

In 1963, after graduating from Har-Brack Union High School, Donald Wagner received his degree in industrial arts from California University of Pennsylvania and spent 35 years as an industrial arts teacher in Burrell School District.

“Dad placed a lot of emphasis in retaining friendships, especially high school friendships,” said his son. “When no one seemed interested in holding high school reunions through the years, Dad took it on himself to arrange the reunions and keep old friendships alive.”

In addition to his son Jason, Mr. Wagner is survived by his wife of 17 years, Kathleen Ann Deroy Wagner; children, Michael Todd Wagner of Arnold, Erin Lee Wagner-Haggerty of Allegheny Township and Keri Lynn Wagner-MacNeil of Winnabow, N.C; five grandchildren; and his siblings, Howard Wagner of Fombell and Nancy Wagner of Fawn Township.