Willard G. Wagner, 91, of Austin, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at Sacred Heart Care Center.

Willard was born March 21, 1920, in Melrose, Minn., as a spring baby. On June 6, 1944, he married Genevieve Hanauska from Albany, Minn. Willard worked with his dad at their meat market in Melrose until he and Genevieve married and moved to Austin in 1947. He was in the Army at Ft. Sill, Okla., and afterward came back and worked at Hormel for 33 years. Willard was a past president of the Hormel Credit Union. He loved to garden and sell the vegetables that they grew. God, family and gardening were his loves. He also enjoyed traveling and had been to all 50 states during his retirement. Willard was a member of the American Legion and the Eagles for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Jenny, Austin; three sons, James and his family, Branson, Mo., Jack and his family, Ft. Myers, Fla., Richard and his family, Dallas, Texas; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anna; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Larry Wagner; nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at Sacred Heart Care Center with Father Donald Zenk officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home and also one hour before the service at Sacred Heart Care Center on Saturday. Military rites will be by American Legion Post 91.