Date of death: 05/17/2023
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1969
Carl Edward Wagner, 79, of Lafayette, IN, was called home to Jesus and welcomed by his son, Paul on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 with his family by his side.
He was born on December 6, 1943 in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late George Henry and Hattie Mary (Goldsberry) Wagner. Carl graduated from Latin School in Indianapolis in 1961 and went on to attend Saint Meinrad Seminary and receive his Bachelors Degree from Marian College. He furthered his education with a Masters Degree from Indiana University in Administration and a Masters Degree from Loyola University New Orleans in Theology.
On August 28, 1971, he married Kathleen Anne Darnell at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church in Indianapolis.
Carl retired from St. Lawrence Catholic Church as the Director of Religious Education. He had previously worked as the principal for St. Bavo Catholic School in Mishawaka, IN and the Youth Ministry Director for the Diocese of Lafayette. Through his career he inspired many youth through his faith.
Carl was a man of strong faith. He was a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Carl was active with the Kairos Ministry and the Catholic Youth Organization in Indianapolis where he was a youth minister.
Carl cherished time with his family and loved fishing, Notre Dame football, and Indiana University basketball. He taught at St. Simon the Apostle School and coached track and field, refereed football and basketball, and drove the school bus.
Surviving are his wife, Kathleen Wagner of Lafayette; his children, Erik (fiancée Liza Dunn) Wagner and Kristen (Michael Latus) Wagner, both of Lafayette and his siblings, Julian Wagner of Indianapolis, David Wagner of Indianapolis, Mary (Curt) Shields of Whitestown, and Martha Wagner of Little Compton, RI. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Brenden Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner, John Wagner, and Victoria Wagner Latus and his great grandchildren, Braelyn Simon and one in the oven.
He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Wagner and his sister-in-law, Mary Jane Wagner.