John Dale Wagner, age 95
January 7, 1930 – February 9, 2025

John Dale Wagner, age 95, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 2:10 AM - Sunday, February 9, 2025, at HSHS Saint Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating John's life will be held at 10:00 AM – Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Newton, Illinois, with Anthony Harris officiating.  The internment will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Newton, Illinois.  In loving memory of John Dale, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church.  Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois.  The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.

John Dale was born on January 7, 1930, in Jasper County, Illinois, the son of Raymond Edgar and Ethyl Alta (Wakefield) Wagner.  He married Evelyn Yvonne Rude on April 9, 1950, and she preceded him in death on June 8, 2009.

John was fortunate to find love again when he married Sharon (Haire) Richards on May 1, 2011.  They spent the next thirteen years enjoying life.  Together they traveled, spent time with family and friends, and laughed much.  A life well lived, and a life well loved.

John was a loving father, grandfather, husband and a beautiful soul who loved his church and his community.  He was very proud to be a member of the First Baptist church of Newton for 72 years.  John Dale spent his working life doing what he loved, farming.  He was a farmer south of Newton, operating a dairy and grain farm.  Even in retirement, he would be found at the farm, staying in touch with all aspects.  John also loved watching grandkids and great grandchildren in all their activities.

John Dale is survived by:

Wife – Sharon Wagner of Newton, Illinois

Children – Karen Meinhart of Newton, Illinois; and Brian (wife Dorothy) Wagner of Newton, Illinois

Grandchildren – Ryan (wife Honey) Meinhart, Nicole "Nikki" (husband Jeff) Greathouse, Graham (wife Jane) Wagner, and Zachary (wife Beth) Wagner

Great Grandchildren Brockton Greathouse, Ava Greathouse, Daniel Falcioni, Luca Falcioni, Matthias Meinhart, Alexa Wagner, Morgan Wagner, Andrew Wagner, Mitchell Wagner, Lance Wagner and Nora Wagner.

John Dale was preceded in death by his parents, wife Yvonne, son-in-law William Donald "Bill" Meinhart, siblings Raymond Wakefield Wagner Jr., Eugene O. "Gene" Wagner, Evon Marie Stapp, Margaret Louise McClane, Melvin Merle Wagner and Gerald Ray Wagner.