Stephen Paul Wagner

Steve was born Nov. 26, 1952 in Casper, Wyoming. His father, Vern H. Wagner, from Colorado met and married his mother, Jacqueline H. (Major) Wagner from Bath, England while he served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII.

Steve attended Fairdale Elementary, Dean Morgan Jr. High and Natrona County High. In December, 1969 he left high school early to join the Navy. He trained at the San Diego Naval Training Center for basic, and Newport, Rhode Island for signalman. He was then assigned to the USS Piedmont (AD17), a destroyer tender. During his four years on the Piedmont, Steve made three tours of the Far East. On his third tour, the Piedmont serviced destroyers at Da Nang, Vietnam.

Steve met his future wife, Susan Searcy, in the 2nd grade while they were neighbors in Casper. After her father’s death, Susan’s family moved to Bakersfield, CA. While based in San Francisco, Steve learned that the Searcys were living in Bakersfield. He became reacquainted with Susan, and they married 5 months later on January 8, 1972.

Steve completed his Naval service in November, 1973. Returning to Casper, Steve joined the Texaco oil refinery until it closed in July, 1982 when the couple started a landscaping business (Windy City Landscaping) expanding it in 1987 to include a wood burning stove store (All American Home Center).

Steve and Susan had two daughters: Crystal Dawn, born November 19, 1976 and Lacy Marie, born on June 20, 1980. There are three grandchildren, Michelle, Michael (deceased) and Ellyott, and five great-grandchildren, Sarah, Brexley, Sawyer, Braxton and Lakelynn.

Steve & Susan divorced in 2005. Steve moved to California where he lived for over a decade, making a dear friendship with Kristi Mascia.

In his later years, Steve experienced physical and mental health issues which eventually led to his premature death.

A one-half hour civilian & military service is planned for August 28, 2025 at 10:10 a.m. in the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery Chapel. For friends or family interested in an informal virtual get-together for sharing stories and memories about Steve to be held later the same day, contact Anne Wagner, (sister-in-law) at aj_wagner@fastmail.us to request the link in advance.

Donations to honor Steve’s life may be made to the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force at: NCSPTF c/o CWCC, Attn: Kendall Hickman, 1430 Wilkins Circle, Casper, WY 82601.