Mack Arthur Wagner

Mack A. Wagner was born on March 2, 1962 in East St. Louis, IL to Rev. Alex F. Wagner Sr. and Versie Lee (Trammell) Wagner. He graduated from Lincoln Sr. High School and enlisted in the United States Army in 1980. He was a Unit Supply Specialist. He had the following decorations: Army Service ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Marksman (Rifle). He received an honorable discharge in 1983. He later married Valerie Sorrell in 1984. He raised her three-year old son as his own; six years later, they had three daughters they shared and later he had another son.

Mack showed unconditional love to his wife, children, grandchildren, sister/sisters-in-law, brothers/brothers-in-law, nieces, great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and all his special friends, near and far. It wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them because he was very protective of them all. Mack was born a protecter and later learned what it truly means to one after serving in the United States Army, everywhere Mack went, he was always trying to protect someone from harm.

Mack’s passion was in landscaping. He was one of the best landscapers around, when his work was done, you would see all the hard work and dedication he had put into it with love. He was a Jack of all trades, he was good with his hands and whatever job he was assigned, he did it with passion and love. His desire was to retire next year, buy a newly built home and open a small business called Mack’s Landscaping Inc.

Mack loved spending time with his Joliet family. He shared a bond with his wife of 39 years that couldn’t be broken, they called each other Best Friend and could talk about anything without an argument, they would spend time talking and texting daily, always ending with “I love you and have a blessed day.” He would say thank you for making him a dad, he loved his children dearly, they were his pride and joy. He couldn’t go too many days without talking to his twin, LaCarra Wagner, they loved doing similar things like cooking, cutting grass, and listening to loud music. He would spend time talking to his children about anything, that’s how special of a dad he was, he would tell them how proud he was of them all the time and if they were feeling down, he would pray to God on their behalf and tell them everything would be okay.

He especially loved being a PawPaw, he would sit and talk with the grandchildren for hours and listen to whatever they had to say. The would play all sorts of kid’s game no matter the time of the day. When he wasn’t in town, he enjoyed Facetime with them, seeing their great big smiles and hearing them call him PawPaw Mack which would make his day. They would tell him how much they loved and missed him, and he would let them know how he felt as well, with tears of joy running down their faces, you could see the love. He helped his family with whatever they needed done without hesitation and always with love.

Mack has six living siblings that he loved dearly, he had a special bond with his baby brother, Christopher Wagner, from birth and as they grew older, they became best of friends, they spent a lot of quality time together before his untimely death, and they talked, texted just about every day, they were able to give each other brotherly advice and respected each one’s point of view, he was so proud to be one of his bigger brothers. They shared overflowing love for family and friends, near and far.

Mack enjoyed being at family cookouts with good music, food, and games. He was always the one who would barbecue and DJ, playing all the old and new songs, he had so many different selections that he played as loudly as he could on his big Boom Box, The Big Mack. He was a lover of animals, especially dogs, he would take them for daily walks and runs and he would take care of them as if they were his children. He left behind a special fish with special friends, with whom he trusted and adored; they named him the Return of the Mack.

Mack accepted God as his Lord and Savior at an early age and continued to love Him dearly until his dying day. He would play his gospel music daily and sing songs unto the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. He did one of the greatest things that God has created us all to do, is love one another as we love ourselves. He told many of us he loved us every day, and he meant it in such a way, whether by phone calls, text messages, or in person, he made sure to let us know, and this is something that we all can agree upon today.

John 15:13 NLT, says there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Mack left his earthly body to go home to be with the Lord on July 29, 2024 doing what he knew best, protecting the people he loved. On this day, he was at work protecting his work family from the unknown, this situation could’ve taken so many different turns, but only God truly knows, once again here comes PVT Mack A. Wagner to the front of the line, to Serve and Protect the people he worked with and truly loved.

The Legacy Mack left for us all to cherish is to live our lives serving God as he did and to love one another as we love ourselves.

Mack A. Wagner is preceded in death by his loving parents, father, Rev. Alex F. Wagner Sr.; his mother, Versie Lee (Trammell) Wagner; two brothers, Alex F. Wagner Jr. and Gary Wagner; his nephew, Andrew Scott Jr.; and his mother-in-law, Evangelist Lorraine Wade.

He leaves behind to mourn his loving wife and best friend of 39 years, Valerie Wagner; his son he loved and raised as his own, Juan Hairston; three daughters, Demeria Wagner, LaCarra Wagner, Sheena Wagner and a son, Deantae Wagner; 11 grandchildren, Ramya, Damarco, Jeffrey Jr., Kay’Lah, Ashton, Auston, AuGust, Matthew Jr., Melanie, Jordyn and Maddisyn; brothers, Maurice (Bobby) Wagner, Larry Wagner, sisters, Joyce Bennett, Clarine Wagner, and Danielle (Eric) Snelson; a host of nieces, great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews near and far; sisters-in-law, Sherri (Eddie) Brown, Marie (Sherman) Sorrell and Centrel Carter; brothers-in-law, Donnie (Gwendolyn) Carter, Frederick Sorrell Sr., and Eddie Wade Jr., Larry (Linda) Sorrell and Victor Jones; a host of special family and friends near and far.

We can remember PVT Mack A. Wagner as a hero who gave up his life to Serve and Protect his Dutchtown work family in St. Louis, MO from the unknown.

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