Ellen Irene Wagner

Born in 1952 to Edward and Mildred Young, Ellen was raised in Collingswood NJ along with her sister and two brothers. She came to faith in Jesus Christ as a child in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. An excellent student, Ellen attended Geneva College in Beaver Falls PA after graduating from Collingswood HS.

Although she graduated with a BS in Education intending to teach elementary school, Ellen never spent a day in the classroom. Instead her varied career path led from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to a handful of non-profit organizations. Her favorite job was working for the non-profit Abilitec, where she helped people with disabilities overcome barriers to transportation and employment, enabling them to lead the fullest possible lives.

Ellen married her husband Doug in 2005. Together they shared a passion for music, good books, gardening and seeing new places. Her only child Joel, from a previous marriage, was stillborn. Without children of her own, she doted on her nieces Heather, Heidi and Holly and nephew Matthew. Doug’s two sons and their wives (Aaron and Jasmine and Daniel and Nikki) respected her deeply and granddaughter Jude had a special bond with her Nana Ellen.

Over her lifetime, Ellen belonged to several evangelical churches, which gave her opportunities to serve her Lord and Savior. She served as church pianist, Bible teacher, small group leader, lay minister and Stephen leader, in which role she trained Stephen ministers in one-on-one Christ-centered care for people in need. She was always an encourager of her fellow pilgrims.

God gifted Ellen with an open and non-judgmental nature, which provided her a life-long ministry walking alongside women through personal struggles and crises. She loved people and people loved her. She loved the Lord and wanted others to know the peace and joy she had found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In her later years, Ellen turned to writing. Within the last two years of her life, she completed a devotional book based on the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, one of her favorite authors.

Ellen is survived by her husband Doug, step-sons Aaron & Daniel Wagner, step-granddaughter Jude, sister Nancy (Gary) Runhaar, brothers David (Mary) Young and Richard (Leslie) Young, nieces Heather (Geoff) Downey, Heidi (Jay) Rucki, Holly Young, Maria (Ryan) Scott, Leilani (Kendrick) Spanner, and nephews Pete (Amy) Runhaar, Chris (Juliet) Runhaar, Dan (Kim) Runhaar, Josh Runhaar, Matt (Liz) Young and Ed (Kelly) Young.

Donations in Ellen’s honor may be made to:

• Christ Fellowship Church PO Box 893 Sun Prairie, WI 53590
• Lake Sherwood Orthodox Presbyterian Church PO Box 770957 Winter Garden, FL 34777
• Agrace Hospice 5395 E Cheryl Parkway Madison, WI 53711