Rachel Wagner’s life is a story well-written. She was a kind, caring, loyal, smart, and strong woman. She was a loving, faithful, compassionate daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:29-31
Rachel was born on March 3,1926 to Alex and Mary Weitzel, German immigrants from Russia. She was born near Lake Alice, about nine miles north of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She was proud of her heritage and had fond memories of her childhood. She would tell of long summer days working with her family in the sugar beet and bean fields. Rachel attended Lake Alice School through 10th grade. In 1940, her family moved to a farm near Bridgeport, Nebraska. There she met James Wagner. They were married on January 27, 1945, soon after James returned to the US after serving in the South Pacific during World War II.
Rachel was a master at making a house a home. She lived in many different houses in Nebraska, Colorado, Washington and South Dakota during her married life. She has been living with her youngest daughter, Billie, since December 2010.
Rachel is survived by a brother, Joseph Weitzel, and two sisters, Esther (Bill) Houston, Martha (Woody) Woodiel, and a sister-in-law, Susan Weitzel. She is also survived by her children, Karen (Roy) Newton of North Platte, Nebraska; Diana (Ed) Stooshnov of Sicamous, British Columbia; James (Debbie Belle) Wagner of Doland, South Dakota; Debbie (Charlie) Shimmin of Gothenburg, Nebraska; and Billie (Bruce) Miller of Loveland, Colorado. She is survived by 18 grandchildren, Candy Newton (Amy) of North Platte NE: Dan Newton (Nicki) Newton, of North Platte Ne; Sheri Newton, North Platte NE, Sean Newton (Chelsea), Omaha NE; and Shad Newton (Mandy), North Platte NE; Michael Stooshnov (Chelsea), Sicamous, BC; Tawn Liddicoat, Kelowna BC; Lanaya Stooshnov, Calgary AB; Heather Wieshlow, Laguna Niguel CA; James Wagner, Doland SC, Terry Hofer (Mike), Doland SD; Scott Shimmin (Sara) Cave Creek AZ; Michael Shimmin (Rachel) Waukesh WI; Kristen Smedley (Jonathan) Cambodia; Lyndi Miller (Philip) Gothenburg NE; Blanche Randolph (David) of Hemingford NE; Benton Miller (Julie) of Maxwell NE; Beneth Fryman (Jeremy) of Fairborn OH; and Betsie Lewis (Adam) of Puugi, Estonia.
Rachel’s great-grandchildren are Austin Riddle, Marisa Tyler of North Platte NE; Travis Riddle of Illinois; Cody Newton (Anessa) of North Platte, NE; Devan Newton of North Platte NE; Ashlynn Baker of North Platte Ne; Tyson Risse, Gracie Risse and Jacob Newton of North Platte NE; Edguin Gio, Mercedes and Oliver of Omaha; Mariah and Alaya Liddicoat of Kelowna BC; Jamie Wagner-Lutter of Redfield, SD, Lydia Wagner of Doland SD; David Remily of Brookings SD; Trent and Julian Remily of Doland SD; Jade, Lincoln and Lucas Trowbridge of Tremonton, UT; Luke and Noelle Shimmin of Cave Creek, AZ; Lila and Lannon Shimmin of Waukesha WI; Isaiah, Silas, Isabella, Josiah and Leilani Smedley living in Cambodia; Brant, Rachel, Aranni Miller of Gothenburg NE; Alexis Eaton of Pleasant Grove, UT; Jason Randolph (Lacey); Mikayla Randolph of Hemingford NE; Gregory, Nathan and Natasha Randolph of Hemingford NE; Whitney, Natalie Tobye, Corey, Lexi and Felicity Miller of Maxwell NE; Josi and Zane Fryman of Fairborn OH; Jazmynn, Baxter, Ciarra and Willow of Puugi Estonia. Rachel’s great-great-grandchildren are Zoey, Addison, Jessa, Asher and Oakley.