OREGON – Sharon Ann Wagner, age 76, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 in Dixon. She was born Feb. 23, 1943 in Amboy, the daughter of Roy and Mary (Shaw) Ackerson.
Sharon graduated from Ashton High School in 1961 and followed in the footsteps of her mother and Grandmother becoming the 3rd generation in her family to get their Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. She married Lynn Cater at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church in 1964. He preceded her in death in 1967. She then married William B. Wagner on March 29, 1969. Sharon taught 2nd through 6th grade for over 31 years. She taught in the Seward, Chana, and Oregon School Districts. Sharon was instrumental to introducing computers into the classroom for young students at Jefferson school beginning with Commodore 64, teaching students and teachers alike.
She was a member of the Lighthouse United Methodist Church and the UMW of the church. She was a former Life Line volunteer. Sharon loved to line dance and square dance and would teach her students to dance. She loved to play bridge with her friends, cards and card games of skill and creativity with her grandchildren. She also liked to ride horses, going on trail rides, and did barrel racing on her horses when she was younger. She loved to travel throughout the United States in their RV and were members of the Avion RV Club. She and Bill also spent many years with friends in Weslaco and Alamo, Texas.
She was predeceased by her parents, first husband Lynn Cater, daughter Janet Heier, and grandson Joshua Wagner.
She is survived by her husband Bill of Oregon, children; Robert (Peggy) Wagner of Baileyville, Joyce (Dana) LaPier of Belvidere, Jeff (Liz) Wagner of German Valley, Dawn Valdes Wagner of Sharon, Wis., and Chad Wagner of Oregon; 3 sisters; Sandi (Jerry) Garkey and Vicki Dawson all of The Villages, Fla., and Pam (Gary) Ferguson of Red Oak, Ill., 14 grandchildren; Ryan, Heather, Rebekah, Ben, Ashlea, Kyle, Kyle H., Brooke, Isa, Emily, Juan, Faith, Jovani, and Carlos, 11 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews whom all caller her Aunt “Sis.”
Funeral service was 10:30 am, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church near Oregon with the Rev. Matthew J. Smith officiating. Burial in the Ashton Cemetery. Visitation was from 2-4 pm, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 at the Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 S. 7th Street in Oregon. A memorial fund is established for the Lighthouse United Methodist Church.
