Richard M. Wagner Jr.

Richard M. Wagner Jr., 52, of Swansea, Ill., born May 13, 1962 in East St. Louis, Ill., passed away June 5, 2014 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Rich was very passionate about fishing! He took up the hobby at age 3 and started fishing in tournaments when he was in high school. One of his greatest fishing accomplishments occurred in 1997 when he won a boat in a bass tournament. Mr. Wagner worked for 15 years at Cope Marine in O'Fallon, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Charles Schimpf.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa D., nee Schimpf, Wagner whom he married on Oct. 17, 1992; two daughters, Haley and Ashley Wagner both of Swansea, Ill.; his parents, Richard and Joann, nee Moodey, Wagner Sr.; his mother-in-law, Joyce Schimpf of Du Quoin, Ill; a brother-in-law, Larry (Kim) Schimpf of LeRoy, Ill., a nephew, Lukas Schimpf, of LeRoy, Ill.; his best friend, Clifford Pass of Lenzburg, Ill.; his two dogs, Lexy and Macy; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Memorials are requested to the American Melanoma Foundation, 4150 Regents Park Row, Suite 300, La Jolla, CA 92037 or to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com.

Friends were able to call from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2014 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, Ill 62223.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Henry's Catholic Church, 5315 W. Main St., Belleville, Ill. 62226 on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Kenneth York officiating. Interment will follow in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.