Stephen Edward Wagner

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of a brave, kind, and generous friend, husband,
father and PaPa, Stephen Edward Wagner, 65, of Bryan, Texas. Steve passed on Sunday, June
11, 2023, after a difficult battle with liver cancer. It gives us comfort knowing that his final days
were spent surrounded by friends and family that he loved.

Steve was born on December 24, 1957, to Virginia Garrett and Walter Wagner in the bustling city
of Petaluma, California. Steve’s father served in the military and soon after his birth the family
relocated to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. At age six, Steve moved with his mother
and sister Dlynn to a small town outside Bryan, Texas, where they were surrounded by
grandparents and other family. He used to say there was nothing in town to do but ride bicycles
in the dirt or through the puddles if it rained. He soon graduated to banana seat dirt bikes and
building jumping ramps. However, this favorite pastime soon led to his infamous chipped tooth!
Steve also played some local baseball and of course football while he attended school in Bryan.
After completing school, he choose to work in the oil fields in the Gulf Coast Region with the
State of Louisiana being his favorite. He was on the seismic crew, often referred to as a
doodlebugger. They would look for the oil based off geologists’ grid maps. Being a
doodlebugger was hard work with lots of time away from friends and family. Steve eventually
left the oil and gas industry for construction. He learned quickly and mastered many aspects of
construction. Eventually Steve became the Commercial Construction Superintendent for his
long-time employer, Madison Construction, LP. If you drive around Bryan and College Station,
you can bet Steve probably had a role in most of the larger commercial projects including banks,
hospitals, office buildings and some Texas A&M University facilities. Steve was gifted with his
construction skills and had a passion for building and running large projects. He even did some
small projects for his family!

In the late 80’s Steve met the first love of his life, Sharon Meade Padgett when her sister Diane,
introduced them at Murphy’s bar. They went on to wed in 1988 and Steve became a stepfather to
a 10 and a 16-year-old girl. It must have been love for him to take that on! But on a serious note,
he loved his girls and treated them as his own. Steve and Sharon often traveled to South Dakota
to visit family and friends. Visiting Mount Rushmore, attending family reunions and always
going to the Black Hills to buy jewelry.

Steve had a soft heart for his German Shepherds, Tasha and Zelda. But Steve’s passion was his
hobby, tinkering and rebuilding old cars. He and his lifelong friend, Brooks, worked tirelessly
on many cars together with his pride and joy being his 1979 Pontiac Trans-Am and Sharon’s
1980 Corvette. He was so proud when he won the Super Chevy Show for the restoration he did
on the Corvette. You could say that car was a labor of family love with Steve and Brooks
rebuilding it and his brother-in-law, Bruce painting it a show stopping shimmery pearl. At yet
another car show, the Texas Bluebonnet Street Rodders, his Trans-Am took home second place.
There are few things Steve was rarely without. That would be a cap or hat on his head and Dr.
Pepper in his hand. That man could drink some Dr. Pepper. He also enjoyed chips and some
seriously hot salsa often adding Tabasco sauce to perfectly good food.

Steve lost his first wife in 2017 but was blessed to find love again when he met Diane Zaleski.
Steve’s passing cut their time short, but they packed a lot into 5 years. They enjoyed taking trips,
attending concerts, and live music at Wheels Tavern. Additionally, Steve enjoyed riding bikes
with his friends. Sadly, their trip to the annual Sturgis Bike Rally did not happen but we are sure
he will be watching over friends as they attend. Something that brought Steve great joy was
charity toy runs and fundraisers for a variety of things close to his heart; kids in need and trying
to get voters to the polls for Trump.

Steve was predeceased by his first wife of nearly 30 years, Sharon Wagner. His parents, Virginia
and Walter and Uncle Kenneth Loveless. His in-laws, Berma and John E. Padgett.
Steve is survived by his wife, Diane Zaleski. His sister Dlynn (Jim) Roll, and stepbrother
Michael Garrett. The daughters he raised; Cheryl (Jesus) Flores and their daughters Megan and
Isabella and Kimberly (William) Charanza and their children Addison, Caiden and Easton. His
wife’s daughters; Cynthia (Jimmy) Chollett, Kim (Charles) Camarillo and Heather (Joe) Rocha.
An additional 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Aunts: Jackie (Mario) Ramos and
Sandra Loveless. Uncles: Jerry (Alma) Eskue, Tommy (Neitta) Loveless and Larry (Sharon)
Loveless. And his best friend of all time, Brooks Benskin.

His family would like to thank all those friends who called, texted, or stopped by during his
battle. But most of all we are thankful and appreciate the prayers. Services will be held at 11:00
am at Callaway-Jones on Saturday July 1, 2023, with interment of his cremated remains immediately
following at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery. 2811 Old Kurten Rd, Bryan, TX 77803.