Harry E. ''Hap'' Wagner, III, 78, Jazz Enthusiast

He was born in Lorain on August 18, 1932 and remained a life-long resident of the city.

Hap was a graduate of Clearview High School; while enrolled there he was a member of the National Honor Society and was active in the Drama Club where he performed in a variety of productions.

He went on to complete two years of study at the Cleveland Engineering Institute receiving certification as an Architectural Draftsman. He also attended Florida State University and then Lorain County Community College where he received an Associates Degree in Business.

Mr. Wagner was a veteran of the United States Air Force where he fulfilled duty assignments as a radio man attached to the 6986th Communications Flight Wing. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal as well as the Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of Mullen-Murray Post # 451 of the VFW.

In 1966 he joined the Ford Motor Company where he rose to the position of Supervisor of Engineering and Maintenance Planning for both the Lorain Assembly and Ohio Truck Plants; he retired from the automaker in 1996.

Hap was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge # 1301 in Lorain where he served as Grand Exalted Ruler; he had also previously served as the District Grand Exalted Ruler on the organization’s state level.

Regarded as a jazz enthusiast, Mr. Wagner enjoyed spending free time at the family’s Kelleys Island retreat with his three grandsons. Additional interests included boating, fishing, golf, and league bowling.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years Mary (nee James), son Mark S. (Rosey) Wagner of Vermilion, daughter Lynne Wagner of Lorain, grandsons Marcus, Ross, and Ryan, brother Robert Wagner of Lorain, sisters Beverly Izworski of Lorain, and Mae Fridenstine of North Ridgeville, along with half-brothers Kenneth and Daniel Wagner both residing in Amherst.

He was preceded in death by his father Harry E. Wagner, Jr., by his mother Lucille (nee Roth) Wagner, by a brother Donald, and by a sister Janice Asberry.

Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain. At 7:30 p.m. a memorial service will be conducted by the officers and members of Elks Lodge # 1301. Funeral services will be Tuesday beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. in the Catholic Church of St. Peter, 3501 Oberlin Avenue, Lorain. The Reverend Eric S. Orzech, Parochial Vicar of the parish will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.

The family encourages memorial contributions to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

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