Donald Eugene Vagner

Donald “Don” Eugene Vagner, 85, of Carterville, passed away Friday, August 23, 2024, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the Community Connection Center at First Baptist Church of Carterville, with Rev. Dwayne Sheumaker officiating.

Memorial contributions can be made to the National Kidney Foundation.

Don was born November 22, 1938, in Benton, to John and Genevieve Joan (Dubonouski) Vagner. He married Ruth Ann Neal on September 6, 1958, in Benton. Together they shared nearly 66 wonderful years. 

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Vagner; sons, Bryan (Toni) Vagner, and David (Dawn) Vagner; daughters, Susan (Jim) Hawkinson, and Lisa West; grandchildren, Brandon (Kori) Vagner, Adam Vagner, Lindsay (Jeff) Gwaltney, Erica Vagner (Jason Jackson), McKinley (Kevin) Witbrodt, Heather Hawkinson, Bradley Hendrickson, and Beth Ann (Jeff) Fann; great-grandchildren, Walker and Audra Vagner, Kniyah and Ransom Vagner, Avery, Charli, and Dylan Gwaltney, Jace and Jaden Jackson, James Johnston  “J.J.” and Amelia Witbrodt, Beaux Nance; and his brother, Charles Vagner.

Don was preceded in death by his parents.

As a graduate of the University of Illinois, Don was a devoted Illini fan.

He was an accountant at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, University Housing, retiring as Assistant Director of Housing-Fiscal after 30 years of service.

Don was an avid fisherman. He especially enjoyed taking his mother, brother and other family and friends fishing for blue gill on Devils Kitchen Lake.  Don fished in many bass tournaments in Southern Illinois and surrounding states. He was a 3-time winner of the Harkin’s Memorial Fishing Tournament, including the team that holds the record of 70.90 lbs. in 1997.

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