Catherine M. Wagner, age 103, a resident of Manitowoc, entered eternal life on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at St. Mary’s Nursing Home.
Catherine was born on October 19, 1919 to the late James and Lucy (Schulte) Conway, and raised on the family farm in Meeme where she helped with chores and enjoyed riding horses with her siblings. When World War II began, she was working at St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan as a Registered Nurse. Catherine enlisted in the United States Army Nurse Corps in September of 1943. She was stationed at Fort Ellis, IL, later going to Texas and eventually to England where she served for 18 months. She returned to Sheboygan in September of 1945, on the Queen Elizabeth, as did Jimmy Stewart and Vernie Kress. On May 16, 1949, Catherine married Gordon G. Wagner at St. Isadore Catholic Church in the Town of Meeme. He preceded her in death on May 29, 2002. After Gordon’s passing, Catherine returned to her hometown area of Manitowoc and resided at Felician Village.
Mary is survived by the many friends that she had made over the years while residing at Felician Village and St. Mary’s Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lucy Conway; husband, Gordon; stepson, Patrick Wagner; and siblings, James, Mary, and Charles.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at St. Francis of Assisi on Grand, 1416 Grand Avenue, Manitowoc. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Matt Collie. Military rites for Catherine will be accorded by American Legion Post 88 at the church immediately following the memorial service. Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel with burial of Catherine’s cremated remains to be held at St. Wendel Catholic Cemetery. A visitation will be held at St. Francis of Assisi on Grand on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m. Online condolences may be sent to www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting with funeral arrangements.
