Darryl Gary Wagner

May 18, 1936 - Jan. 14, 2012 Loving father and grandfather. Preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Helen Wagner, beloved daughter Jennifer Jane Wagner, and beloved Uncle Paavo 'Pete' Mannerstam. Survived by his daughters, Hilary Christensen and Lisa Wagner of Sacramento and Norah Smith (Ian) of Atlanta, and granddaughter Marion McKenzie Smith of Atlanta, as well as his faithful cocker spaniel Sammy. Darryl was born in Oakland but was a lifelong resident of Sacramento. He was in the first graduating class of El Camino High School. He married his high school sweetheart Nora Tinling; they later divorced but always remained good friends. After college he joined the Marine Corps and served in the Philippines and Hawaii. He started his professional career after the service as a county surveyor, moving shortly thereafter to Tiechert & Sons as head estimator and ultimately to Peter Keiwett & Sons to become the project manager for the W-X freeway. In 1965 Darryl formed Wagner Engineering Corp. with a VW truck and a wheelbarrow and ended up running the company for the rest of his career. He was also a car and boat enthusiast, winning multiple times the Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance wooden boat Best of Show award with his Sanger speedboat. His automobiles also won numerous trophies throughout the state. His saying for work and his hobbies was 'if some is good, more is better!' A private service will be held on Friday, January 20 at 1:00pm at the East Lawn Memorial Park in East Sacramento. Reception to follow for all family and friends at his home in Sierra Oaks. W.F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Directors since 1897.