Mark Thomas Wagner, age 69, was called to be with his savior on June 10, 2015. He was born on March 10, 1946 to Thomas and Eileen (Smith) Wagner, baptized at First English Lutheran Church in Joliet, IL, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lockport, IL. Mark graduated from Lockport Township High school in 1964, before joining the Peace Corps, where he served as Youth Director for the American Lutheran Church, stationed in the US Virgin Islands. Mark attended both Joliet Junior College (Joliet, IL) and North Park College (Chicago, IL), and graduated in 1967 from the Armed Forces School of Music-Little Creek- in Norfolk, Virginia. Mark enlisted in the US Navy in 1966, where he served as a Communications Technician and Musician. He was a loyal patriot who valued, supported, and defended his country. After marrying the love of his life, Rosemary (Fragale), in Joliet, IL on July 22, 1967, Mark and his new bride deployed to DaNang, Vietnam, where Mark was stationed aboard the USS Providence, 7th Fleet Admiral's Flag Ship in the Gulf of Tonkin Harbor. After his deployment ceased, the Wagner's returned to the US, where Mark continued to serve in the Naval Reserves until he was honorably discharged in 1970. The Wagner family settled on their rural Volga, SD farm in 1981, where they raised three children, Monica, Matthew, and Martin. Mark, a faithful steward of the land, enjoyed ranching and farming alongside his devoted wife and sons until 1996. Mark's appreciation of nature and love of agriculture reinforced his lifelong passion for gardening. To his family and friends, Mark was known as a master gardener; one who eagerly awaited the arrival of his Spring Burpee Seed catalog to get a head start on the many varieties of tomatoes and peppers that he would plant. Mark's unfettered belief that all he possessed belonged to God, and that he was a steward of it, called him before more than 300 congregations across the US, where he purposefully used his talents in the capacity of Program Director of Resident Stewardship Services for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; followed by Director of Planned Giving and Congregational Services for Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota; and finally, as Director of Answer the Call for the South Dakota ELCA Synod. A fervent man of God and a faithful provider for his wife and family, Mark integrated a love of farming, a zest for big-band orchestra, a passion for gardening, an enthusiasm for NASCAR, and a hearty appetite for Chicago style hotdogs to all who knew him. He will forever be remembered for his proper etiquette, legendary attention to detail, jolly laugh, generous nature, and his soothing "radio" voice. Mark was proceeded in death by his parents, Thomas and Eileen Wagner. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Rosemary, and his three children: Monica Daniel (Brian), of Chicago, IL; Matthew Wagner (Kerri) of Volga, SD; and Martin Wagner (Jennie) of Brookings, SD; eight grandchildren, Bricelyn and Hayden Daniel; Hudson, Haze, and Hope Wagner; Kamylle, Rennick, and Mira Wagner. A brother, Ron Wagner; four sisters, Susan Rasek (Ken), Elizabeth Mormann, Laura Wagner, and Lauretta Kuban (Tom). Visitations will be held at First Lutheran Church in Volga, SD from 3 PM-6 PM on Sunday, June 14, 2015. We invite you to join us in a service celebrating Mark's life on Monday, June 15, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Volga, SD beginning at 10:30 AM. In Lieu of flowers, Mark has requested memorials to First Lutheran Church, Volga, SD; Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD; Lutheran Social Services - Residential Care Program, Sioux Falls, SD; or the Food Pantry, Brookings, SD. A donation box for canned goods will be available at the services.