Paul Wagner

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Paul Johnston Wagner, on March 13, 2025 at home in Meridian, Idaho at the age of 65, with his wife Barb at his side. Cause of death was multiple myeloma.

Paul was born in Seattle Washington on May 5, 1959 to Vernon Wagner and Phoebe (Aylen) Wagner. The youngest of 5 siblings, he was raised in the South Seattle area where he attended schools and was active in sports, choirs, bands and orchestras.  He took piano lessons from Victor Smiley for years, and in his junior year, at age 17, he won the coveted Gold Paderewski award playing piano at the National auditions.  Also as a teen, he would attend some of his brother Walt’s concerts, meeting celebrities back stage and in the green room. Paul graduated from Foster High School in June of 1977.

Paul attended college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA for 2 years as a music major, then traveled the NW playing in bands 6 nights a week to hone his keyboard skills.  During that time, he briefly attended Eastern and Western University, got married and welcomed his son Michael in November of 1981. He returned to CWU in the fall of 1986 to finish his education.  It was at this time that he found the Lord, and shifted his focus and song writing skills to Christian music.  With his best friend Stephen Richardson, they wrote and performed two musical dramas at several churches in the NW. You could find him at many churches in the area as he played piano, organ and directed the choirs, which enhanced the message to the congregation.

Paul received his Bachelor of Arts degree from CWU in August of 1988.  He had been student teaching at several schools in Ellensburg, WA and after graduation went full time: K-12, music education, choir, band, dramas, English, and also coached boys and girls basketball. Always challenging himself to improve, in 1996 he returned to CWU, taking piano lessons from Peter Gries, and received his Masters of Music in Choral Conducting in December of 1997.

His first job was in grocery, saving money for concerts and LP’s. Over the years he worked in radio and recorded jingles, installed car stereos, sold pianos and mattresses. He was resourceful and frugal while remodeling his 100 year old home in Ellensburg, learning and perfecting his construction skills.

Life took Paul to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where he got jobs teaching Choir at Canfield Middle School, and 4 choirs and a tech/AV class at Coeur d’Alene High School.  It was here that he made long lasting friends and joined their rock and roll band called “The Rhythm Dawgs”.  Paul’s keyboard skills, vocals and knowledge of the pro audio technology was a huge addition to an already thriving band.  It was also in the band he met his future wife Barb, who was the lead female singer. Around 2001, he moved back to Ellensburg and opened his own espresso/keyboard shop called “All Keyed Up”, but continued to commute for band rehearsals and gigs.

Paul and Barb married in Ellensburg, WA on February 14, 2004, and the whole band played for 2 hours at their reception. He was ready for another adventure, so they sold both their houses and the coffee shop and moved to Albuquerque, NM to accept a full time job at Cross of Hope Lutheran church as their music director.  Running 3 Sunday services, choirs, praise team, playing piano and organ, and organizing many social events, Paul was in his element! He and Barb also built and ran an espresso stand in the fellowship hall that he called “He Brews”.  At this time they were both very involved in remodeling their homes (2) as well as a few friends’. Paul’s favorite (and Barb’s) was tiling: Paul would design and cut, Barb would lay, apply grout and work on cleanup. Paul also loved to cook and entertain, pulling from his time at MaMa Vallone’s in Cle Elem, Washington in the late 80’s.

In 2007, Paul’s dream of starting his own restaurant came to life! Their next adventure  brought them to Great Bend, Kansas where they purchased a Masonic Lodge temple, and designed and created a coffee shop/restaurant called “Great Bend Coffee”. Again, he excelled at everything, and they soon had 4 full time, and 8 part time workers, serving espresso and muffins in the a.m., and lunch items until 2p, 6 days a week.  They also ventured into Italian dinners with a full liquor license on weekends. Paul ran the back of the house, with Barb up front. Sunday they worked on remodeling projects and expanding, and rested?? They had to move out of the building to expand the seating, bought a house, remodeled it while running the restaurant. Wow!,

In 2014, after accomplishing the restaurant dream, but tired and wanting to move closer to Barb’s Mom, they moved to Boise, Idaho;  bought a house and…remodeled it, and spent 7 precious years with Jo until she passed in 2022 at age 97. Barb got a job at Home Depot, Paul helped with music at Covenant Presbyterian, but then landed a dream job at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran.  He easily handled choirs, praise team, dramas, and co-ordinating all music to go with the liturgy and worship message. No one was too old to get a lesson in phrasing, chord changes or vowel pronunciation. In 2015, he landed another dream job creating and running a music program at Falcon Ridge public charter school in Kuna, ID. The program flourished for 7 years under his guidance, and he was very well loved by students and staff alike. He once said the music was the focus, but learning about the students lives was a bonus benefit.

Paul and Barb loved to travel when they could, including 2 weeks in Venice, then a 15 day Transatlantic cruise to Florida, 2 cruises  through the Panama Canal, land and sea vacations to Mexico and Hawaii, and 2 trips to Switzerland to visit his friend Stephen.  In May of 2023 they flew to NYC to attend his son’s Michael’s wedding, then flew to England for a cruise through the Norwegian fjords. He would brag to anyone that would listen that he owned 3 tuxedos, which he would bring to all his cruises for formal nights. At 6’8” in a tux with tails, he was a sight for sore eyes.

Paul’s music inspirations and tastes were very eclectic.  He loved classical piano, but also 80’s disco and funk, Jazz, R and B. He liked groups like Take Six, James Taylor, Earth Wind and Fire, LOVED Chaka Khan, and would get teary eyed every time she sang.  His latest obsession was “Dirty Loops”, which he and Barb got to see perform live in Salt Lake City with his good friend Tony. He was a master at electronic music, sequencing, and midi interface.  Barb and he started a duo while in Albuquerque, performed in Kansas, and also had a few gigs in Boise before he got sick. He started going to aerobics classes in the 80’s, always standing up front so the ladies in the class weren’t self conscious. He really liked Jazzercise, and continued going to classes in Kansas and Boise, even helping to build the stage and wiring the sound system.

Diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2020, he endured treatments while still trying to teach.  It became evident in the fall of 2021 that he didn’t have the stamina, and couldn’t afford to be exposed to germs. He and Barb both retired in 2022, and tried to stay as healthy as possible. They would travel when they could, and loved to watch college and pro basketball and NFL football.  His favorite teams were the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sonics, and the Gonzaga bulldogs.

They moved into a smaller one level house in September of 2024 with the help of many friends and family. Also diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, and lastly congestive heart failure, he finally said “enough” and stopped all treatments in February 2025, right before their 21st wedding anniversary.  He was always wanting to make a difference, so he donated his body to science that he might help find better treatments or cures.

Paul was a believer and was eager to see his family, friends and pets that had moved on. He is survived by his wife and caregiver Barb and dog Josie in Meridian, Idaho; brother Walter (Cathy) Wagner; sister Mary (Dick) LaFever; sister Cynthia (Richard) Waitt; sister Jean Wagner; his son Michael (Will Huston); several nieces and nephews, and previous spouses Roni Rumsey and Jeanne Lancaster.

Please join us for a service and celebration at 1 p.m. on Saturday May 3, 2025 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran in Boise, Idaho, casual attire, with light refreshments afterwards. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Idaho Jazz Education Endowment fund in Boise, ID or CWU Music department in Ellensburg, WA.

Special thanks to his medical care team: Angela Pellant of Primary Health, St Lukes Meridian Oncology Department, especially Dr. Peyman Haghighat and nurse Paige, and all nurses in the infusion area; St. Lukes Boise BMT Dr. Kreisle and nurse Hope, and all the pharmacists and specialists that worked hard to keep him alive and well.  Also, thank you to Doctors Hospice for their care at the end of his life.  Sincere thanks to all friends and family for your love, help and support these last few years.