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John Pershing Wagner Jr., 73, passed away on July 10, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, from complications from Parkinson’s disease. John was born on December 12, 1952, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to John and Neltje Wagner.
John attended Ritchie Elementary and graduated from Wheeling High School in 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 1970, a Master of Arts in speech communications from West Virginia University in 1980, and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 1995.
John worked for many years in healthcare marketing for two national hospital companies. He had a second career in investing in and managing real estate. He also enjoyed teaching part-time at both the University of California Los Angeles and the University of California Santa Barbara extension programs.
John is survived by his husband and partner of thirty-seven year, Kelly Bowers; their gorgeous red standard poodle rescue, Lucy; his sister Jodie (Rusty) Slie; his brother Colbert Wagner; his sister-in- law Gwen (Gary) Gilchrist; and several nieces and nephews.
In honor of Johnás love for animals, donations may be made to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter located in Palm Springs, California.