John William Wagner

July 22, 1933 – December 13, 2021

Coach John Wagner, 88, passed away at home under hospice care Dec. 13, 2021.

He was surrounded by family, love, and comfort. Declining health had limited his mobility toward the end, but he maintained a buoyant spirit to greet family, visitors and his next meal.

He loved to eat. Pie and coffee were a favorite, but he was always grateful for any meal.

John was born in Seattle July 22, 1933. He spent some time growing up on his maternal grandparents’ farm in Kent during the Depression. There he had many chores including caring for the chickens and milking cows.

During adolescence his mother relocated John and his two sisters to Wenatchee. In high school there he met his sweetheart Barbara, to whom he was married for over 60 years until her passing in 2016.

However, marriage would have to wait until after John served in the army in the Korean War during which he survived a POW camp.

After returning from Korea he and Barbara completed bachelor’s degrees at WSU. He then embarked on a career of teaching and coaching that held his devotion for over four decades. He touched the lives of thousands of students and athletes.

He loved them and they loved him back. He could be demanding but those in his tutelage appreciated his commitment to their advancement. His first job out of college was in the small town of Bridgeport.

There he taught and coached several sports including sixth-grade girls basketball and eight-man football.

He relocated to Moses Lake in 1962, where he stayed for the rest of his career. He taught biology and PE, but most of his teaching career was focused on English and reading for students at different levels of ability.

He was a dedicated teacher, but his real love was coaching.

He coached football, wrestling and track for over 45 years.

As a wrestling coach he was part of a dynasty at MLHS that included 14 state championship titles and 38 top 10 finishes. He was head coach of the football team from 1976 to 1980, during which time he was named

Big 9 coach of the year. In 2002 he was inducted into the MLHS Hall of Fame. In 2006 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association.

John was a devoted father to his sons.

He shared with them his love of sports, fishing, hunting and the value of dedication to one’s endeavors.

Both sons had the great experience of being coached on John’s teams.

John is survived by his sons Mark (Kathy) and Glen (Carla), and grandchildren Carletta, Austin, Kirstin, and Jacqueline, as well as many nieces and nephews.

His service will be held Saturday, March 5, at 1 p.m. at the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church, 1142 W. Ivy Ave., Moses Lake, Washington. Anyone touched by John’s life is invited to attend.