John Allen Wagner

John Allen Wagner, 88, of Chesnee, SC, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in his home on January 2, 2024.

He was born in Columbus, NC on July 18, 1935, to Ruben Lee and Hettie Louise [Hannon] Wagner. John, or Allen, depending on how you knew him, attended Polk County Schools before enlisting in the US Army on July 13, 1954. He was honorably discharged on June 30, 1962, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Good Conduct Medal, and serving with the 11th Airborne Division (the "Angels") in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Allen met the love of his life Carolyn Bashaw in 1957 at Malone, New York, while he was helping construct the St. Lawrence Seaway. They married on October 11, 1958, in Malone before a Justice of the Peace and renewed their vows in the Catholic Church on September 10, 1966. Allen and Carolyn moved several times following the construction business leading them to Lockport, New York; Sylacauga, Alabama; Chesnee, South Carolina; and finally landing back in Carolyn's hometown of Malone. After twenty-plus years in the cold of Upstate New York and a -30-degree temperature one fateful morning in December of 1981, Allen and Carolyn decided to move to the upstate of South Carolina, where Allen's siblings and parents assumed residence, and where there was no snow. Allen, with the help of his sons, built the home they still lived in until the day he passed away.

Allen was a hard worker his entire life including the excitement of driving moonshine for the sheriff before he was old enough to see over the steering wheel to running multiple successful businesses. In Malone, he started Wagner's Insulation installing K-13 insulation throughout the North Country. After moving to South Carolina, he and his brother Ray started Wagner Brothers, which was a general contracting business that led into the highly successful vinyl siding industry. His last endeavor and decidedly his most loved was Christmas Hill Tree Farm. What started as a hobby grew to a thirty-year tradition of selling Christmas trees to generations of families from near and far. We'll long to hear him tell the children "I'm Santa's brother...he's the fat one with the toys and I'm the skinny one with the trees" just one more time.

­­­Allen was an active member of the New Prospect Masonic Lodge for many years where he served as Master and received lifetime membership. He was a proud Shriner and was a member of the Hejaz Bums. People may remember the antics of Bushy and Willy as they rode through local parades surprising everyone with their old washtub on wheels.

He will always be remembered for his bright blue eyes, big smile, and his witty sense of humor. He loved to tell stories of his life and, while some seemed too far-fetched to be true, they were always based on fact. We couldn't have asked for a better spouse, parent or grandparent, and will miss him every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, several of his siblings, his daughter Robin Ann and his two sons, Fred Allen, and Wade Alan. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Carolyn of the home, his daughter Vicky (Carl) Bashaw of Malone, NY, sons John (Penny) Wagner of Malone, NY and Scott (Jessica) Wagner of Inman, SC, and daughter Wendy (Will) Cauthen of Cramerton, NC, as well as 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, many of which affectionally called him "Papa Christmas."

Visitation will be at 1:00 pm on Sunday, January 7th, 2024, at Eggers Funeral Home, 195 Rainbow Lake Road, Spartanburg, SC. His funeral with Masonic rites will follow at 2:00 pm in the Chapel at Eggers. Inurnment will be on a later date at St. John Bosco Cemetery in Malone, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Greenville, SC.