Cofounder of Wag-Aero Dies Unexpectedly

Dick Wagner

LYONS, WIS. – Richard (Dick) H. Wagner, 74, cofounder of Wag-Aero, Inc., passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2012, at his residence in Lyons, Wisconsin.

Wagner was born on August 20, 1937 in Burlington, Wisconsin, and was one of the early visionaries of the sport aircraft movement. Wagner once served in the National Guard, and flew for the Minneapolis-based Republic Airlines, while he and his wife, Roberta (Bobbie), founded Wag-Aero, a manufacturer and supplier of sport and homebuilt aircraft parts and supplies, in the early 1960s.

By 1965, Wag-Aero printed its first catalog and continued to expand. In 1971, the company moved from the basement of the Wagners’ home in Lyons to its present location, also in Lyons. A grass airstrip was built at the top of the hill for the convenience of the company’s many fly-in customers. Today, Wag-Aero has more than 95,000 customers, and 600,000 catalogs are mailed each year, which includes 10,000 items.

Wag-Aero’s kit sales are an important part of its business. Their first kit aircraft was the “Sport Trainer,” a replica of the Piper J-3 Cub. The “Wag-A-Bond” and the “Sportsman 2+2” were added later.

On September 1, 1995, the Wagners sold The Wag-Aero Group of companies to Bill Read and Mary Myers: https://www.midwestflyer.com/?p=2210

“Dick was a visionary and a giver to aviation and mankind,” said Dave Weiman of Midwest Flyer Magazine. “His and Bobbie’s contributions to aviation and the world will long be felt.”

In 1978, the Wagners established a non-profit foundation with the purpose of promoting aviation, supporting humanitarian programs throughout the world, and preserving historical buildings and artifacts. Memorials may be sent to the Wagner Foundation, Ltd., P.O. Box 307, Lyons, WI 53148-0307.

Dick Wagner is survived by his wife, Bobbie; their daughters, Marcy (Ken) Essman and Julie (Bob) O’Neill; grand children, and great grand children.

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