Name: Joseph B. and Claretta L. Wagner

Parish: Charter members of Precious Blood Church, Jasper

Married, number of children, grandchildren: Married for 52 years; seven children, 12 grandchildren and three step-grandchildren

Tell us three things about yourself: Joseph: I’m honest. I try to treat others like I would like them to treat me. I am a hard worker. Claretta: I’m very realistic. I believe in fairness, honesty and truthfulness. We were brought up to be independent, but to help others as much as one can.

What are some of your earliest childhood memories? Joseph: I was born and raised in St. Anthony, Ind. There were 10 children in my family, and I’m the third youngest. I was born during the Depression, so we didn’t have any money. We had the farm, and everybody had their job to do. There was never a dull moment. Like most people, we didn’t have electricity or indoor plumbing. We got lights around 1945 or ’46. Claretta: We played a lot with the neighbor children. They had a great place to play . . . a chicken house with shelves. We had a vivid imagination and used it to play grocery store. We tore up Queen Anne lace flowers for oatmeal and dried-up weeds for coffee grounds. I had two brothers and two sisters, all younger. In 1956, the brother next to me was killed in a plane crash shortly after returning from Korea. It was three weeks before he was to be married.

What was your first job and what did it pay? Joseph: My first job was in the Jasper Cabinet factory. Then in 1950, I went into the service and spent two years in the Army. I was fortunate that I didn’t have to go overseas. When I came back home, I went back to the factory for a few more years. Then after the plane crash that killed both my brother and brother-in-law, I went to work for my father-in-law, who owned a gas station/garage in Jasper — Vogler’s DX. I worked 35 years as a mechanic there, and was manager after my father-in-law died in 1967. Claretta: My first job was in a five and ten cent store, and it paid 28 cents an hour. When I was 13 or 14 years old, I had jobs picking strawberries and peeling tomatoes in a cannery.

Who influenced you growing up? Who did you consider to be a hero? Joseph: Our mom and dad. They always were there for us. They made us go to church whether we wanted to or not. Claretta: My dad. He taught me many things. Mom did also. We were taught to work and be independent. I learned how to help butcher turtles and rabbits.

Who is your hero now? Joseph: Mother Teresa because of her work for the poor. Claretta: All the soldiers going to war.

What form does stewardship take in your life? What are you involved with at your parish (current and/or past)? Joseph: Like everyone else, I have helped with the bingo and picnics. I was a charter member of the choir and helped when we tore down the old church. I still try to help where I can. A few weeks ago, I helped cut up dumplings for our upcoming picnic, which will be the Sunday, Aug. 21. For around 20 years, I was a softball and baseball coach in Jasper. Claretta: In the past, I volunteered at the hospital for 25 years, worked at the all the Precious Blood picnics, and was a Eucharistic minister for the nursing home. I also helped clean the church. In 1995, we received the Simon Brute award from our parish.

Why should a person be faithful, go to church or believe in God? Joseph: It’s important to have a religion. I like going to daily Mass. It’s a good way to start the day. Claretta: I think it helps you feel connected and belong to a larger family. I’ve met some of my best friends in church.

What is your first memory of church? Joseph: Our parents were strict Catholics. I was an altar boy for several years, and I have many memories of serving at Midnight Mass. We walked a mile and a half to get to the Catholic school at St. Anthony. The roads were very muddy when it rained. Sometimes we would take the horse and buggy, but most of the time we walked. We had Mass every morning, and I helped ring the Angelus bells at noon. I helped carry the ashes out from the furnace and even helped unload the coal trucks after school. It was hard work for a young boy! Claretta: Going to church every Sunday. We had our own pew (number 357) at St. Joseph in Jasper. I grew up about a quarter mile from where Holy Family Church is now. I went to that church about a year and a half before getting married, then returned to St. Joe’s jurisdiction until Precious Blood was formed. We’ve been at Precious Blood ever since. I remember my First and Solemn Communions at St. Joe, Jasper. We walked in for instructions every Saturday. At Solemn Communion, we had to transfer to St. Joe School in the sixth grade for the whole year. I normally went to the country school, where the St. Vincent de Paul is now in Jasper. Adam Blessinger, Father Jim’s dad, was my teacher for all seven grades.

What is your favorite religious item? Joseph: My rosary. Claretta: When I had knee surgery, my niece, Kathy Schwenk, gave me an angel. She died of cancer, so when I see this angel, I think of her.

Have you encountered a miracle or God’s intervention in your life? Joseph: I was in an accident at the garage. We were putting a van up on a lift when it went off the front and pinned me against the wall. I was off work for about a month and had to learn how to walk again. Also, when I was about 18 years old, a barn collapsed on me while we were tearing it down. I walked away from it. I must have a good guardian angel. Claretta: One of our boys was hit by a car in front of our house when he was just a toddler. It was a miracle that nothing was broken . . . for a while he just limped a little. In 1995, while I was driving a bus for Southern Indiana Rehabilitation (SIRS), I was involved in a serious accident. A truck rear-ended me, pushing me into the truck that was in front of me. I was the only one seriously injured; I lost a leg. It was a miracle that no one was killed.

What have you learned?  How are you different than 50 years ago? Joseph: I have more patience now, and I see things differently than when I was younger. I know now what my dad meant when he would say, “Wait until tomorrow” when we would ask him for things. I can’t understand why people today complain about how we’ve got it so hard. There is so much of everything now! For example, when I was young, we had one kind of cereal: puffed wheat, which cost 15 cents a box. Go into Wal-Mart today and you’ll find a whole aisle filled with cereal on both sides! Claretta: I used to have a hard time saying no. I used to be so busy, volunteering at the hospital, driving a bus and working at the Schnitzelbank, etc. The accident slowed me down. Now I don’t worry about getting so much done. I have more patience about things.

Tell us about a favorite saint: Joseph: St. Joseph is my favorite. My middle name is Benedict, so I have something in common with our new pope. Claretta: My favorite saint is St. Jude. I pray to him when I’m alone. Also, St. Francis of Assisi because of his love for birds and animals.

Do you have any hobbies? How do you stay active? Joseph: I am very interested in genealogy and like to collect information about my family’s history. My grandparents came from Germany, so we used to speak German at home when I was growing up. Claretta: I do quilt block embroidery work and help prepare food for bereavement dinners. I like to read Reader’s Digest and watch ice-skating on TV. I loved to skate when I was younger.

What makes a success? Joseph: To be successful, you have to work at it. You need to be honest and do things on your own without depending on someone else to do it. Claretta: For me, having the greatest friends in the world is success. I used to think it was hard work, but now I think having supportive friends is the key to success. I have had some friends for over 50 years.

People of Wisdom is sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, Inc. For more information, please call (800) 637-1731 or (812) 424-5536, or visit the website @ www.catholicfoundationswin.org.