The Reverend Deborah M. Wagner May 1, 1936 - March 11, 2023

The Reverend Deborah Marianne Wagner, 86, of Allentown, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Phoebe – Allentown. She was the wife of The Reverend Doctor Walter H. Wagner. They would have been married for 65 years this August. Deborah was born in Baltimore, Maryland, a daughter of the late Charles John and Dorothy Rosa (Rau) Kus. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of Notre Dame of Maryland where she graduated cum laude, her Master of Science in Library Science Services from Rutgers University, her Master of Arts from Princeton Theological Seminary, and her Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Deborah was a certified senior librarian in both New Jersey and California. She was employed as the head librarian for the Public Library of Thousand Oaks CA, circulation librarian for Upsala College, East Orange NJ, children’s librarian for the East Orange Free Public Library, Westfield NJ, and as a librarian for Muhlenberg College, Moravian College and Cherry Hill Public Library. She served as a classroom aide for the Allentown School District. Pastor Wagner was ordained in 1996 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and became a Certified Ministry Associate in 1988. She served the Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Allentown, from 1996 – 2002. She served also as pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Summit Hill, and as a chaplain at Cedarbrook Nursing Home, Fountain Hill, before retiring. Deborah was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown. She served on the boards of Eastern Pennsylvania Church and Synagogue Library Association, Ecumenical Committee for Continuing Education of Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Northeastern PA Synod Committee on Justice and Peace (ELCA), and as a consultant for Northeastern PA Synod Learning Ministries Team (ELCA). She was a choir member and educational program participant for the St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem. Deborah was also a member of Valley Community Orchestra where she played the violin. Survivors: husband; son, Dr. Nathan Samuel Wagner and his wife, Maria, of Montrose CO. Services: A memorial service to celebrate The Reverend Wagner’s life will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, March 22nd, in Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 Hamilton St. Friends and family may call from 10 – 11 AM Wednesday in church. A reception will follow the service at the church. Arrangements by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., Allentown. Contributions: Deborah M. Wagner Scholarship Fund, Notre Dame University of Maryland, 4701 North Charles St., Baltimore MD 21210, The Respect Graduate School, 2200 Industrial Dr., Bethlehem PA 18107 or Christ Lutheran Church, PA 18102.