Wayne E. Wagstrom

Wayne Ellis Wagstrom, 91, Moorhead, MN, died on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley surrounded by his loving family.
Wayne was born on July 20, 1924, in Crookston, MN, to Herbert and Lillie Stenshoel Wagstrom. His family moved to Twin Valley, MN, where he was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church and graduated from high school. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead for one year until drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the field artillery during WWII. Following his discharge in 1946, he returned to Concordia where he graduated in 1948.
Wayne married Loanna Nysetvold on August 8, 1948, in Twin Valley, MN. They built their home and raised their family in Moorhead. He worked as manager of the music department at Concordia College for six years and then worked for the J.M. Wylie Piano Company in Fargo, ND. Later he took a job at Children’s Village in Fargo, where he became the director after acquiring his master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota. For the last twenty years before retirement, he worked as a psychiatric social worker at the Southeast Human Service Center.
Throughout his career he served as an officer on many social service boards and was a very active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead and Kiwanis. Wayne enjoyed camping with his family and later traveled the U.S. and world with Loanna.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Loanna; his children, Gwen Mark Halaas, Grand Forks, ND, Craig Wagstrom, Moorhead, MN, Ann Wagstrom, Northfield, MN, Thor Rikki Wagstrom, St. Paul, MN, and Rolf Wagstrom, Buffalo, MN; six grandchildren, Per Emily Halaas, Liv Andrew Detwiler, Erik Mallory Halaas, Solvi Wagstrom, Soren Wagstrom, and Ingrid Wagstrom; and one great-granddaughter Anelise Halaas Detwiler. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Arleen.
Memorials may be given to Concordia College, The Village Family Service Center, or Trinity Lutheran Church.
Memorial gathering: Sunday, December 13, 2015, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.
Memorial Service: Monday, December 14, 2015, at 11:00 A.M. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Twin Valley, MN.