June 19, 1940 – Dec. 31, 2017

Longtime Cass County Commissioner and educator Robert “Bob” Wagel passed away New Year’s Eve in Houston, Texas after a long and courageous battle with leukemia.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at noon on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St., Dowagiac, with Pastor Jodi Cartwright officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. with Masonic Rites taking place at 11:45 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to donor’s choice. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at clarkch.com.

Bob was born in Maysville, Kentucky to Jesse and Clarice (Durbin Dean) Wagel and grew up in nearby Brooksville, Kentucky.

A Future Farmers of America member, he graduated from Bracken County High School in 1958. Being a smaller high school Bob and his classmates fostered many close bonds and they became like a second family.

After high school Bob entered the army earning marksman and paratrooper ratings. His stationing in Germany spurred a lifelong love of travel that would see him and his wife travel the world.

After his stint in the Army, Bob went to Morehead State University where he would meet the love of his life Martha Jane Johnson. Bob and Jane both graduated with degrees in education and embarked on their lives together.

Bob earned two masters degrees from Eastern Michigan University; one in guidance and counseling and one in educational administration.

Then the teaching couple would settle in Cass County Michigan in 1976 and remain there for the rest of Bob’s life. He was the guidance counselor for Dowagiac Union High School until his retirement in 2001. As a certified counselor, professional counselor and social worker he made a huge impact on thousands of students in Dowagiac. But Bob always kept busy. He also taught Driver’s Ed, worked in the summer youth program and taught social sciences as an adjunct instructor for Southwestern Michigan College. If that was not enough, he also umpired high school baseball and softball. He passed the officiating torch to his oldest son Ashley by umpiring his last game with him.

Public service was a hallmark of Bob’s life. In 1971, he joined the Air Force reserve and would stay in for 22 years retiring in 1993. Also for 22 years he was a Cass County commissioner for Wayne Township with his last term ending Dec. 31, 2016. During this time, he was the Chair of the Board for seven years and kept a hearty schedule on numerous committees. Further, as part of his public service career he was the chair of the Board of Public Works, chair for Tri- County Headstart and Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network. Other areas he served were the Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health Board, Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board, Dowagiac Area History Museum Advisory Board, and the Michigan Senior Advocates Council.

Using his counseling and social work experience he worked with the American Red Cross in New York City after 9/11 and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina as a grief counselor.

As much as he loved public service, he also loved community service. Service above self is the motto for the Rotary International Clubs and Bob was very active in the Dowagiac Rotary Club being a Past President and a Paul Harris Fellow. A Kentucky native, he was named a Kentucky Colonel and was active in their service projects. He was also a Lion, American Legionnaire and Master Mason with Peninsular Lodge #10 Free and Accepted Masons.

In his free time he enjoyed many activities. For several years he took an annual trip to West Virginia white water rafting with friends and family. An avid private pilot for decades he was well known at area fly-ins all over West Michigan and Northern Indiana. After his retirement genealogy became a passion and Bob found a rich family history in the forming of this great country – a source of great pride. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, where he was a past national trustee and state President as well as a multi-term President of the Sauk Trail Chapter. Bob was a proud member of The First Families of Kentucky, The First Families of Maryland, The Society of Colonial Wars, The Founders and Patriots of America and a Charter Member of The Order of the Founders of North America 1492-1692.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane Wagel, his son Ashley Wagel and his fiancé Hayley Dillman and her children Ryker and Danica, his son Aaron Wagel, granddaughter Lucy Perkins-Wagel and grandson Austin Murphy.

There are two services for Bob, one in Kentucky and one in Michigan. Kentucky services will have vistitation at 11 a.m. and service at noon on Jan. 13, 2018 at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, 41 Hackett Ridge Road Brooksville, KY 41004.