Mr. Wagner, a semi-retired architect from Dallas Center, died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident Tuesday on Iowa Highway 44. He was 85.
Mr. Wagner helped restore numberous historical buildings around Iowa, including the Marshall and Dallas county courthouses and Terrace Hill, the governor's home. He was on the Living History Farms' first board of directors, and designed the 1900 Farm and the Church of the Land there.
Mr. Wagner had also worked on the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch and North High School in Des Moines. He was known for sketches he drew for the American Federal Savings and Loan calendar.
Born in Porterville, CA., Mr Wagner grew up in the Oskaloosa and Pella areas. He had lived in Dallas Center for the past 49 years.
Mr. Wagner graduated for the Iowa State University school of architecture in 1939 and received a master's degree from Drake.
"He was somewhat outspoken about the bastardization of a unique historic building," said John Wetherell who worked with Mr. Wagner for many years. "I would guess that there were not many that had the intensity for it that Bill did."
Mr. Wagner was working on serveral projects at the time of his death one of which was the Historic All Saints Catholic Church building in Stuart, Iowa.
He was appointed to the Historic American Buildings Survey Advisory Board, and was a member of the American Institute of Architects committee on historic resources.
Wagner's sketch of the Little Brown Church at Nashua (Click to Enlarge)
Wagner's sketch of All Saints Catholic Church (Click to Enlarge)