Esther Wagner, age 99 of Kenosha, passed away at ManorCare Health Services in Kenosha on Monday, July 17, 2017.

She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on March 23, 1918 and was the daughter of the late Fagel Dobrusin. She was a graduate of UW-Parkside, having majored in special education and English literature.

Esther grew up in Chicago and married Harold Wagner, MD, in 1941. They moved to Kenosha in 1964. He preceded her in death.

She worked in sales at Marshall Field’s in downtown Chicago, office support and management at the University of Chicago, for state government in Illinois, and as a special education tutor and ESL teacher at what was then Gateway Technical College. Her most interesting job was as a French flower girl at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1933.

Esther was committed to volunteer work and philanthropy. She drove ambulances and buses for the Red Cross, served on several nonprofit boards, organized clothing and food drives to help the victims of riots in the 1960s, tutored New Americans, served as a museum docent, provided support for people with mild dementia, coached children on their reading, and provided many hours of free clerical support to a variety of nonprofits.

Her great loves were dancing and music. She was very active in the square dancing and round dancing organizations in southeast Wisconsin and spent many years participating in the Seeger Senior Strings as a ukulele player and featured dancer.

Surviving are her daughters, Aileen Wagner and Patricia (Calvin Byles) Wagner, and family and friends in the United States and Canada.

In addition to her mother and her husband, Harold Wagner, MD, she was preceded in death by her longtime friend and companion, Abe Baas.

Her family would like to thank Douglas Merow and his family, the family of Abe Baas, the staff members at ManorCare, Volunteer Guardian Services, Adult Protective Services, Hospice Alliance, Inc. and the many other professionals who helped her family with their compassionate care and support.

Service Info

In accordance with Esther’s wishes, funeral services will be held privately. Private inurnment will be held in Green Ridge Cemetery.