Leo Waggener

LEO G. WAGGENER

Leo G. Waggener, age 91, formerly of Kahoka, MO, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in Hot Springs, AR.

He was born June 28, 1916 in Clark County, MO, a son of Leo G. and Grace Kaiser Waggener. He married Virginia Lorene Lillard on June 14, 1941 in Trenton. To this union two sons were born.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kahoka and attended when he could over the years until the loss of his hearing prevented him from enjoying the service.

Leo was an avid gardener and raised lots of vegetables and beautiful flowers every year.

He graduated from Kahoka High School and attended the University of Missouri.

He farmed until 1938, was a jack of all trades for a while, then started working for

Curtis Candy in Trenton, MO, in 1939. While working for Curtis Candy he signed up for the Airforce in 1942, started active duty on February 1, 1943. He was sent to Michigan State College for Cadet Training and was placed in Altitude Training where he worked with pilots, co-pilots and navigators. He served until 1946 then resumed his jobs with Curtis Candy. There he worked his way up to District Manager Supervisor of Sales for Mo, Ia, and Il. When Curtis Candies was sold to Standard Brands he went to work for Mays Department Store as Supervisor of Sales for the Tri-States until his retirement in 1982.

Survivors include two sons, Gary W. Waggener and his wife, Amy, of Hot Springs Village, AR, and Dr. James Lee Waggener and his wife, Iris, of Grapevine, TX; three grandchildren, Colby Waggener of Little Rock, AR, Byron Waggener of Grapevine, TX, and Megan Waggener of Lubbock, TX; a brother, William K. Waggener and sister, Elizabeth Jean Waggener, both of Denver, CO; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Leroy and Ethel Lillard of Kahoka, MO and Alma Ferne Boehmer of St. Louis, MO; as well as nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife on August 16, 1999; and a sister, Frances W. Walsh.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 16, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka with Rev. Gary Payne officiating. Burial with military rites was in the Kahoka Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.