Victor Wager Jr.

Victor Eugene Wager Jr., 85, of Creston died Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, at his home in Creston.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Salem Lutheran Church in Creston. The Rev. Brian Jack will officiate. Inurnment will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Graceland Cemetery in Creston with military honors by the Iowa National Honor Guard and Theodore J. Martens VFW Post No. 1797. There will be no public viewing. Visitation with family present will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday morning at the church one hour prior to the service. Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., in Creston is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to HCI Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Victor Eugene Wager Jr., son of Victor Eugene Wager Sr. and Hilda Johanna (Pedersen) Wager, was born July 7, 1930, in Council Bluffs. Victor graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. He served in the United States Army from Jan. 26, 1951, until Jan. 24, 1953, during the Korean Conflict. Victor served in the Army infantry and received a Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, Army Occupation Medal - Japan, and Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars. After his discharge, he returned to Council Bluffs and attended Omaha University for two years.

On June 4, 1955, Victor married Betty Farthing. The couple moved to San Jose, California, where they lived for several years. In 1973, Victor relocated his family to Creston. He purchased Phillips Oil Jobbership in Creston where he owned two service stations for a few years. In 1978, his ill health forced him into disability and he was never able to work again. Victor was a member of Salem Lutheran Church.

Victor is survived by his wife Betty Wager of Creston; children, Cynthia Alice (Shaun) Kelley of Afton, Melinda Sue (Treigh) Tysdal of Liberty, Missouri, Victor Eugene (Julianne Schechinger) Wager III of Holden, Missouri, Lorraine Blobaum of Creston and Andrew Marshall (Jacqlyn Hulett) Wager of St. Charles, Missouri; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; sister Shirley Sill of Fremont, California, and two nephews.

Victor was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law; infant grandson Kaedon Tysdal and grandson-in-law Steve Pettit.