There will be a viewing Monday, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Gesu Church, at the Prep, and another at the same
site Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m., with the funeral Mass to follow.

Contributions . . .

WAGS, WAGS, WAGS!!!
CLASS, CLASS, CLASS!!!
Compassion!
Insight into young men...!
A great example....
The kind of coach you would want to play for, want your son to play for,
your grandson, and anyone else.
WAGS, WAGS, WAGS!!!
Simply, the Best!
John, we all loved you, and I know you knew it...
Thanks for everything...
Prayers and much love and to Mona, young Wags, Steve, Grandmom Wags and the
rest of the beautiful Wags family, at least four (4)generations that we are
fortunate to know....
Godspeed, Wags
Rest in Peace
We're much, much better for your sharing your journey with us...
-- Bill McGarvey, SJP '51
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  How or what can I say about coach Wags. For almost 14 years I was by your side for all the games. I learned how to be a better coach from you. The one thing you can say about coach is that every player respected him. I cannot tell you how many times we were standing on the sideline and players going to varsity practice would stop by to say hi. All the perfect seasons that you coached, the players , all came together on the rainy day in Oct when you reach that 100 wins. If you were not at the game you should have seen the players from past freshman teams. Coach you made my wife Shell and I a part of your family. To Mona, John, Steve, and Kim we will always be there for you.
-- Coach John Howe
Asst Prep Freshman Coach
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  Many people know him as coach wags but i know him as uncle john the guy who would always be there for me and give me great advice for anything i did. I loved the times we would go back and forth with each other about who was better Washington Township football or Prep football. I can truly say the one thing i always wanted but never got was a chance to be coached by such a great guy and i hope everyone who played for coach wags realized how lucky they were to have a varsity caliber coach at a freshman level. Uncle John man we had great times together these last 18 years and i couldnt have asked for a better Uncle I love you so much.
Love.
-- Joey Wags
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John Wags,
  Is now and always will be a one of kind man. Who worked hard and loved life; he loved his family, his football and his food.  He always made you feel special and important to him.  He’s a straight shooter; you always knew you would get an honest answer from him if you asked him a question. I want to thank him for being a part of my life, just knowing him made me strive to be a better person. We are not family by blood, but you have always been my family at heart. I love you and the entire Wagner - Grosso family.
Love,
-- Donna R. Simpson
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  I lost a very close friend, John Wagner.  I have been friends with John for over 30 years and I just wanted to take the time to mention a few thoughts about John.  The past 14 years of coaching Prep football has been very fulfilling for John.  I believe that John became the foundation of Prep football.  Gil entrusted his freshman team to John and the rest is history.  John and Mona made a total commitment to the Prep.  Many sacrifices were made so that both boys, John and Steven, could attend the Prep.  But neither John nor Mona saw it as a sacrifice.
  We all know the successes of John the coach.  But John the man had many more victories.  I have been in his company countless times when parents would thank John for the way he coached the team.  He always was surrounded by former players trying to say hello or just to tell John how they were doing in life.  He had touched these boys in a way that they felt he cared and wanted to know how they were doing.  They were right, he did care and he did want to know how they were proceeding in life.
  I am going to take the liberty to reflect one story.  John and I were at a game that was being covered by Vai Sikahema.   Before the game John saw Vai and asked him to say a few words to his incoming freshman boys who happened to be standing near by.  Vai proceeded to tell the young man that they were lucky to be coached by John and that John was one of the best coaches he had seen but more that being a coach he was excellent leader and they should all follow and listen to John.  This was an unsolicited speech from Vai that overwhelmed John.  He never realized how many people he touched.
 I am a better man for knowing Wags, A Man’s Man, he was one of a kind.
-- John Simpson
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  The freshman football season of 1998 was the best of my life for so many
reasons: the grueling preseason at Girard College, Coach Minetti's
nuggets of wisdom, and every victory along the way to our undefeated
season. But what really made that season special was Coach John Wagner.
  Coach Wags, a defining pillar of Prep football for the past 13 years,
challenged us to do better than our best and never let us settle for
anything less than our maximum effort.  Most importantly, he coached
with a genuine love for each and every one of his players.  Coach Wags
always had time for a word of encouragement, always celebrated
touchdowns with hugs, and always ended postgame talks by saying he loved
us.  Once we moved on from freshman football, his commitment and love
never once wavered. Coach Wags would still stop to encourage us in the
trainer's room before practice or would be on the sidelines of the
varsity games to celebrate our touchdowns with us.
  I've never known a coach who was more dedicated to his players. To me,
Coach Wags' genuine love and bond with his players was truly
demonstrated at his 100th victory last fall. The torrential rain could
not keep away the former players who came back to share a special moment
for a special coach.  When I think of Coach Wags, I will always think of
that day - a great coach surrounded by his family and the players that
he loved so much, celebrating the culmination of an incredible career. 
  Coach Wags - I was a better player having played for you.  I am a better
man having known you. And I will always remember the greatest coach I
ever played for.
-- John Connors, SJP '02
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  It is so sad when someone special like John passes. I coached with John his first year at the Prep. He was my wide receivers coach and he did a great job. John was great with the players and just had a gift for coaching. The times I spent with John at the Prep were the best.
  John was a great friend to me, always supportive and upbeat. He was a great man, wonderful Dad and hard working Husband. I will miss John and I am sure all who knew him will miss him to.
  To Mona and the kids my prayers are with you and be strong. I am sure the Wags tradition at the Prep will live on for a long time. 3 PREPS ON 3!
-- Anthony Pastore
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R.I.P Wags
We solemnly swear,
In recognition we bear,
And commemorate the greatest of great.
Truth be told,
We will always hold
The memories of ol' Wags
My God isn't it so sad!
The friendliest fellow,
Perhaps the best of the best
No matter how much we like it
He’s being put to rest.
When I heard the news
I almost lost my mind,
My mental status was in a true bind.
But, no matter how I plead
Or how much we cry,
He is lost from our grasp
But, his thrill won't die!
His thrill won't die!
Do you hear me his thrill won't die!
No matter how much I cry his thrill won't die!
He fought through it all and we became stronger through this
So I guess I should feel glad and have no remiss,
To honor this man, who was the best of the best,
The biggest fighter,
Yet is put to rest
But his dream shall live on
Yes! His Dream shall live!
Even in the worst of times
Especially this day
That Coach John Wags died
-- By Tyler R. Tynes, sophomore at SJP
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Coach Wags,
 Thanks for giving me the only nickname I ever earned.  You called me The Money Man because if we needed a big play, you thought that it should go to me.  I don't know if that was ever true, but it sure made me feel incredible.  You left an indelible mark on my life as an athlete and a man for others.  Your desire to impart wisdom to and show genuine care for your players was effortless and astonishing.  I'll always remember your urging us to come off "that field with your shields, or on them."  At the time I didn't know such a Spartan phrase would have had such a profound impact, but after your funeral today it does.  You just wanted us to give everything we had; to leave it all out on the field.  I now realize that such effort is all we can really control in this life.  The rest is up to God.
  Listening to your niece call you her hero made it clear that you were the same remarkable human being in your other roles.  I only wish I could have experienced just a little bit of Uncle John, but I'll always be grateful for the one year I had with Coach Wags.  You always said that it broke your heart that you couldn't follow your players up through the varsity ranks to watch us grow as men.  You only had us for one year.  Today's attendance at the Gesu proves that although we left you, you never left us.  I'll miss you, Coach.  God bless.
Fondly,
-- Eddie Turner, SJP '00
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We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Wagner. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wagner Family.
-- Roman Catholic Football
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  You will be missed by everyone who had the honor to meet you. You will always be in our prayers.
-- Jack Rutter
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  We write this to Mona, John, Steve and Kim because Coach Wags already knew how much we loved him. His was told at least once a week!  What an amazing privilege to be part of the Prep community but an even greater one to be part of the football family. Our son Philip's freshman football year will be one he will never forget. Coaches Howe, Muldoon and Kaiser we love you! You were a big part of that experience. We will cherish every moment we spent with Coach Wags on the field, and at his home. Kim, 22 years after high school it's ironic we were destined to meet up again. Your father was a great man!
Love,
The Riehl Family
Phil '80, Denise, Philip '11, Gabrielle
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