James Ruben “JR” Wagner, 76, of Ottumwa, died at 12:23 a.m. September 1, 2022 at Vista Woods Care Center.
He was born July 5, 1946 in Ottumwa to Edward and Wilma McBride Wagner. He married Debbie Dennison and they later divorced. Jimmy married Marlena Gullett on November 3, 1999.
Growing up in Ottumwa Jimmy was a Vietnam veteran, having served with the US Army from 1963 to 1967, serving in Okinawa, Japan. He worked for the CB & Q Railroad and Burlington Northern Railroad, retiring as a conductor in 1993.
Jimmy was a life member of O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, a life member of Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of ABATE of Iowa.
Surviving is his wife, Marlena; his daughters, Wendy Wagner and JoAnn Wagner; 3 step-children, Scott Meeker, Terry Meeker and Shayleen Linville; 7 grandchildren; and his sister, Jody Speers.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, September 5th, at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 6th, at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Randy Schmitz officiating. For those unable to attend the service may be viewed on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society.
