Your Memories of Brian
Please comment to share your memories and stories about Brian – either on this page, or any of the pages in the Gallery if the topic is appropriate.
If you have pictures you’d like to share, we’ve created a public Google Photos Album.
You can also read some additional tributes to be found at Paragon Funeral Home’s website and at the Leader Post.
My Memories of Brian
Given I was in a family of 4 daughters & Brian in one of 4 sons, we felt we were each other’s brother/sister. I have many happy memories of being with Brian in Balgonie.
As seniors in high school with graduation looming, he confided in me that he didn’t have a date for the big event.
I had a girlfriend who was in a similar situation & it seemed to me that they could be each other’s date as I liked them both.
Little did I dream that my introduction would not only lead to a happy prom but also to happy partners in life for Mr. & Mrs. Brian Wagner.
One of my favourite achievements in life !!!!!!!!
Brian was so patient with me, as I loved him to death. He would allow me to climb all over him and I took priority to be allowed to monopolize his lap. I don’t know how you accepted that Judy. I looked at you as the competition for his affections. Sunday night were Brian, Boda and Judy over for coffee and watching Laugh-in.
My most vivid memory occurred when Grandpa Thomas passed away, and somehow I was chosen to drive to Regina with Brian in his yellow MG. I was thrilled and we listened to the music of The Doors; “Riders of the Storm” I was 12 yrs old but I felt so grown up.
Brian always made me feel; what I had to say was important and special. Even when I became an adult he treated me as a equal with his quiet and empathetic dignity. I was devastated when he became ill, as he was too young and still had things to accomplish.
He was a sympathetic ear to help me navigate life. I will miss his subtle, wry humour. Good bye big brother, I believe my Mom has perogis and your favourite sour cream jello dessert waiting for you.
I am so honored that Brian allowed this awkward, pesky tomboy to be part of his life. That is why I named my son after him.
I am who I am because he loved me.
When a friend passes, so many memories come to mind. They are funny, strange and endearing at the same time.
I first met Brian in first year engineering. I don’t remember the details of how or when, but the memories come back.
After second year exams, there is a two week session of survey school. One day-session includes mapping a section of campus with an open site alidade. Basically, you mark radial lines on a piece of paper from several spots and connect the dots. Brian and I were paired and Dr. Mike and Rick Dorward, the other two members or our group, were paired. After the field work, Brian and I went back to the class room to draw our map and present it to the marker. Brian had a map of the campus that was the same scale as our work. I don’t know how he got it or how he knew that we would need it. Brian said the campus is based on a north-south axis that’s just a bit off. This is when I first observed the polack heritage in Wagner. To adjust for the north-south variation, Brian rotated our plan 4 or 5 degrees clockwise. We presented it to the marker. He said this is just about perfect, except you’re a little off and rotated the plan back 4 or 5 degrees counterclockwise.
Brian and I were both non-swimmers. When a program for older beginner fraidy cat swimmers was available at the Y we enrolled. Brian got his minnows badge because he could swim the length of the pool without taking a breath. I’m still working on my minnows badge.
After Brian and Terry Collyer started CW Engineering, their office was near a coffee and donut shop where my mother worked. After Brian and Terry had their coffee my mother would put the broken donuts that the store couldn’t sell into a bag for Brian to take back to work and snack on. A few weeks later, Brian called and asked me to tell my mother to stop doing that because he was gaining too much weight. You can imagine how that conversation went.
My most cherished memory of Brian was after my first marriage broke up. Brian and I were having coffee or talking on the phone and Brian commented that after a marriage break-up you had to decide who to stay in contact with and to stay friends with. I’m glad and honoured that you chose me.
Bye my friend.
My memories of Brian are with Canmore cross-country skiing trips. He was always a gentleman, gracious and fun to ski with.
Mike and I remember an accidental visit among the four of us in Victoria Square, perhaps 20 years ago. Brian and Mike were talking about going downhill skiing and whipping each other up into ski fever. A joint ski trip never happened but we have always remembered the visit and that it gave us a little glow.
We remember the camaraderie, we remember the two of you and now we remember Brian.
Brian had a strong connection with the outdoors and nature. He enjoyed being outside and being “at the farm” as much as possible. It is through the farm that I first connected with Brian. We shared the quiet energy that being outside and in nature could provide. I am grateful for the opportunity to help take care of “the farm” where so many wonderful memories have been created.
Brian loved beavers. Dead beavers. It took a long time but many different methods finally got rid of them recently at the farm and the trees are now growing back.
Brian was an amazing engineer and a wonderful mentor. He definitely knew his engineering skills and acted professionally and with integrity always. He wanted to do things the best way and keep things real as he was also practical. He was a patient mentor and I was fortunate to learn from him as much as I could. Brian helped us with a recent build in our yard and we think of him all the time. The studio has Brian’s touch. Brian’s greatest treasure and love was his family! It is his family he spoke most highly of and how much they meant in his life.
Thank you Brian for all you shared with us.
A long time ago, 16 year old Grayden wanted to go on a ski trip. Neither Brian nor Judy could go on the trip but I have always admired Brian & Judy’s faith and confidence in Grayden knowing that he could survive a week with me being his legal guardian. We had a great trip.
I worked with Brian in 1982 doing Performance Specs for SGI new Claims Facilities. I also did the Rochdale SGI Claims Centre.
I again worked with Brian on Campbell Collegiate assessment in 2007 or 2008 while Brian was with the school board.
Brian was one of the best people Darrell and I will ever know. Brian was our friend in every sense of the word – he was a good friend and for a long time. Darrell for over 40 years and my friend for just under 20. So many different places and circumstances. Darrell and I cherish our Arizona memories – lovely Pinky (and Brian’s pride in all the renos), Tortilla Flats, the Organ Stop Pizza, the Desert Botanical Gardens and so much more.
Judy, you and Brian were so welcoming, so sharing and I’m not sure how to phrase this – so “comfortable” to be with and fun. “Shaun the Sheep” was fun and also Mexican Trains. Brian was both a good host and a graceful loser. If, when thinking of Brian, I had to bring one image to mind, it would be Brian by the fire at the farm. His smile lit up the fire in the pit – or maybe it was the fire that lit up his smile. Either way, his look is one I’ll always remember.
Brian and I met nearly 40 years ago. We were a couple of young engineers whose paths crossed on numerous projects. Our shared work ethic and professional connections led to a close friendship forming fairly quickly. I was the civil, municipal and roads engineer and he was the structural engineer. Together we worked on at least 100 projects – many from Brian’s school board days but also those through other connections. We crawled together through the damp spaces under many public schools or attended meetings at renovation sites or new building sites under construction. We worked on a wide variety of projects – 60 plus public schools, the Copper Kettle, Sun West condos and other industrial and commercial jobs. Our mutual goal was always to be sure the work was designed well and the construction done correctly. Our numerous lunch “meetings” – the get togethers with mutual friends and engineers or architects where the conversation was mostly shop talk.
We feel only gratitude for all our memories of time with Brian. Even the “potato” times – years of planting and harvesting at at least three different locations. The Kennebec “monsters” and sputnik potatoes and the one larger than Ivy’s head. Even though he was fighting his cancer with mega drugs and transfusions, he was out at the farm last summer picking the potato bugs.
I will miss Brian and our friendship forever.
Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to celebrate “this life well lived.” We didn’t get to know Brian and you until the SWINE event which you hosted. I knew that you and Brian were a very special couple when I came to hear and see all of the “projects” that were done by the two of you!! I remember how willing Brian was to carry out your idea of “revamping the sidewalk” which included a lot of lifting and replacing sidewalk paving stones. Brian described the process and all the while, he had a big smile on his face. He also shared his thoughts on the Arcola School design and he talked with such enthusiasm I sensed that no job was too big for Brian. He seemed to love designing things and making designs take “life.” He was a worker, Judy, and his life showed what a capable man he was at “doing” and “thinking.” He was a “fighter” and seemed to give everything his best shot. (I hear that “his best shot” wasn’t meant for golf, but for everything else, it applied.) I know that Brian would (and is) pleased with this day and he is smiling, watching all of us from the background. He is a “strong” man and we all learned something from him. Thank you again for sharing him with us.
Brian was a colleague and friend at Regina Public Schools. He was always an excellent and thoughtful colleague, who never forgot the ultimate goal of providing the best possible education for children. It was a pleasure to talk with him about improvements we could make to ensure this goal was met. His was a life well lived, and I would that we had more time and contact with him in retirement. He was an interesting friend, as well as a wonderful colleague.
I will be turning 80 in July, and I find it kind of unfair that he (Brian) couldn’t be here to share it with me. Anyway, I composed a little poem in memory of our times together..
Onward down the path they calls us
Where our hopes and dreams may lie
And there beyond some distant hillside
Hopes and dreams may come to rest
Where some will live and some may fade
To die away like daylight’s glow
Where friends will come as others go
And new hopes rise beyond each hill
Cloaked in haze they always draw us
Far away they always call us
To places we may stop and tarry
For joyous laugh or tears and sorrow
Before our steps again go onward
Along this path the hills keep calling
For all we know is where we are
And all we are is what we know
Of paths that lead us ever onward
While those behind grow ever longer
Those in front are growing shorter
As misty time does cloak our way
To one last hill where we will stay
So walk these hills in love and laughter
Wait awhile and drink life’s nectar
Where life itself is what we treasure
With happy thoughts and fond recall
Of love and joy and good times past
On hills whereon our life was drawn
And fond old memories linger on.
In memory of B. Brian Wagner – at rest beyond that one last hill