Obituaries
R. Richard "Dick" Wagner
September 23, 1943 - December 13, 2021
/fit-in/200x300/filters:fill(white)/prod/1434/288986/f78b44fizelvicbxs0uv.jpg)
Obituary For R. Richard "Dick" Wagner
To view the livestream of Roland "Dick" Wagner's Funeral on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. please click the link:
https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MzE0NDc2OQ==
Born Sept. 29, 1943, to Roland A. Wagner and Katherine Moorman Wagner at Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton, Ohio. Roland Richard “Dick” Wagner graduated from the University of Dayton, B.A. 1965, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.A. 1967, and Ph.D. 1971 in American History. Dick had a storied career as a public servant and community leader. He worked for the State of Wisconsin in various budget, policy, and management positions for 33 years. He wrote DOA The Story: Four Decades of Wisconsin's Department of Administration.
Dick chaired the Madison Landmarks Commission and headed up the Historic Park Fund which created the Period Garden Park in Mansion Hill. He lived in several Madison landmark home and was a founding member of Historic Madison, lnc. and the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. Appointed by Mayors Soglin, Skornicka, Sensenbrenner, Bauman, and Ciesleweicz to other bodies, his service included chairing the Plan Commission and the Urban Design Commission.
ln 1980, he was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors where he served 14 years including four years as Chairperson. County service included the Dane County Regional Planning Commission where he championed the first Starkweather Water Quality Plan and on the Airport Commission where he championed noise abatement efforts. Other civic involvement included serving on the boards of Downtown Madison, lnc. and the Olbrich Botanical Society for three decades.
Governor Martin Schreiber appointed him to the Wisconsin Arts Board, where he served as Chairperson, and the Wisconsin Humanities Council. Governor Tony Earl appointed him as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues. ln 1974, he supported efforts to enact a Madison gay rights ordinance and in 1978 and 1979 he served on the advisory board for the Gay Center. As one of the first dozen openly gay officials in the nation, in 1985 he was a founding member of the National Association and Conference of Gay and Lesbian Public Officials (now the Victory Institute) and co-hosted with now Senator Tammy Baldwin the fifth conference in Madison.
Dick was a founding member and first co-chair of the New Harvest Foundation for LGBTQ charitable causes in the region and organized efforts to place George Segal's "Gay Liberation" in Orton Park. He served on the Board of AIDS Network where he championed the Rodney Scheel House for persons with HIV/AIDS. He served on the board of Fair Wisconsin 2005-2013. ln retirement, he was acclaimed as an award-winning author on Wisconsin gay history. He authored We've Been Here All Along: Wisconsin's Early Gay History (2019) and Coming Out, Moving Forward: Wisconsin's Recent Gay History (2020). He contributed a chapter to the anthology Education for Democracy: Renewing the Wisconsin Idea (2O2O).
A strong supporter of ecumenical Christianity and social justice, he organized a rally in Dayton for civil rights at the time of Selma and marched with Father James Groppi for open housing in Milwaukee. He was a campus organizer for the Moratorium Against the War in Vietnam. Influenced during his graduate school days by the brothers of Taize from their ecumenical monastery in Burgundy, he has been associated with the ecumenical Benedictine Holy Wisdom Monastery and the effort to preserve Wisdom Prairie.
The funeral honoring Roland Richard “Dick” Wagner postponed in January due to a Covid spike has been rescheduled for Saturday April 30th. The event will be held at Holy Wisdom Monastery 4200 County Highway M in Middleton at 3:00 pm. A visitation will precede the service at 2:00 pm and a reception will follow at approximately 4:00 pm. The service will be live-streamed for those unable to attend. Memorial gifts to the Olbrich Botanical Society or Holy Wisdom Monastery are suggested.
To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.
Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services
2418 N. Sherman Ave.
Services
Visitation
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Funeral Service
03:00 PM
Photos & Video
Add New Photos & Video
Condolences
-
June 14, 2022
It was a pleasure working with Dick at the Capitol in the late 1970s. He was always so kind and respectful.
-
June 14, 2022
I will always remember the many social engagements Dick hosted over the years; Sunday brunches, afternoon tea, or just casual neighborhood drop in visits. He would regale us with stories of his travels, political agendas, causes, etc. and even the best selling books he'd recently read. Thanks for your many contributions to the city of Madison, Dick. May your soul rest in peace.
-
June 14, 2022
Dick Wagner is one of the people who made a huge difference to my youth. Coming Out publicly at 15 years old in the early 70's, was doable and possible because of every act and every example he helped move forward. One of the hands on leaders in our Community. Thank you Dick. May his Memory be for a Blessing.
-
June 14, 2022
Sir Richard, although you will no longer walk next to us, you will live on in all of our hearts. You have always been a true gentleman, a generous friend to all and a bright light on the best of humanity. Good bye you beautiful soul. lady shel.
-
June 14, 2022
Dick, you were good soul, colleague and landlord. Rest In Peace, my friend.
-
June 14, 2022
My life was a much richer place having you in it. Loved the times at the Monastery. A life to true service to all.
"Well done good and faithful servant." -
June 14, 2022
-
June 14, 2022
Dick's death is an extraordinary loss to the community. He was such a rare combination of knowledge, commitment, participation and caring. It was an honor to know him. Plus back in 1971 he nominated our home (along with many other special Madison places) to be a City of Madison Landmark. His efforts saved many heritage buildings in Madison. Thank you Dick.
-
June 14, 2022
I had the privilege of serving with Dick on the organizing committee and first board of the New Harvest Foundation. He was a true leader.
-
June 14, 2022
Dick -- I will greatly miss you as a community leader and a longtime friend. From the time our paths first crossed when you had the courage to run for the Dane County Board as an openly gay man through our "reconnecting" at Holy Wisdom about three years ago your caring and passion to do what is right never changed. You have given more to the community than most people can even imagine and I am a better person for having known you.
-
June 14, 2022
So proud to have known Dick over these many years and to have shared numerous history conversations. Brian always looked forward to talking to him at any event where he could be cornered for a history lesson. Brian is also pleased to have contributed in a small way to research on his first book. As noted in his obituary Dick was so community oriented and giving and his presence at just about any fundraising and social gathering - including the ID picnic at our house last summer - will be GREATLY missed, Our thoughts are with all those who are in shock at his passing.
Brian J. Bigler and Ken J. Scott -
June 14, 2022
-
June 14, 2022
A life very, very well lived. Most of us can only dream, unrealistically, of making a small fraction of the contributions that Dick made to our communities. I will miss our lunches together in the sun room or on the back deck. But always retain the fond memories.
-
June 14, 2022
Hard to believe you will not be serving Pimms cup on the lakeshore this spring. Thank you for your bedrock integrity in public service.
Add a Candle
Click a candle below to add a candle to your message.
Follow Us
Get in Touch
what our families say
Madison North East
2418 N. Sherman Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
Tel: 608-249-8257
Madison West
5701 Odana Road
Madison, WI 53719
Tel: 608-274-1000
Verona
220 S. Enterprise Drive
Verona, WI 53593
Tel: 608-845-6625
DeForest / Windsor
6924 Lake Road
DeForest, WI 53532
Tel: 608-846-4250