- ST. NORBERT ABBEY
- DE PERE, WISCONSIN, U.S.A.
- Rev.
James A. Wagner, O. Praem.
- b. Tuesday, Sept. 17.
1901 – d. Monday, Mar. 1, 1982
Our brother
James Wagner was born in Cleveland, Wisconsin, in 1901 and entered the Order in 1922, professing solemn vows in 1927.
As a frat in 1924, Jimmy took on the responsibilities of a teacher and
the disciplinarian of
St.
Norbert High.
In 1927, still
as a frat, Jimmy became the manager of Radio Station WHBY, which operated from
the fourth floor of Boyle Hall. In
1928, he opened studios in Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh. In 1935, WTAQ, a much more
powerful station was purchased and opened with the broadcasting of the High Mass
from the National Shrine, which continued well into the 1950’s.
The college had the distinction of being the only college in the country
that had two full time radio stations under its control.
From
assistant pastor at St. Willibrord in 1932, Jimmy became pastor and superior of
the rectory/priory in 1939. A
transfer, by newly elected Coadjutor Abbot Killeen, in 1947 took him to the
pastorship of St. William in
Shelby,
Montana, where he remained until 1960, when he became the pastor of St. Mary’s in
Chester. In 1967, he was appointed to
St. John’s
in Somonauk, Illinois, until his retirement at the abbey in 1971.
Jim died on Monday, March 1st, 1982 at the age of 80.
