Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Wagster, Lillian Marie (Coyle) July 1, 2019
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net September 7, 2020, 5:27 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard-July, 2019

LILLIAN WAGSTER, 94
Lillian Marie (Coyle) Van Loan Wagster, 94, of Ionia, Michigan, died July 1, 
2019, at Green Acres assisted living facility in Ionia. She was born the 
daughter of Charles and Emma (Teutsch) Coyle, May 28, 1925, in Winner, South 
Dakota, and raised in White River and Rapids City, SD. She graduated as 
valedictorian from Cathedral High School in Rapids City in 1942. After a short 
working in Rapid City, Lillian and her childhood friend moved to Long Beach, 
Calif., where Lillian worked as a bookkeeper at WW II shipyard.

When her father became seriously ill she returned home to help care for him. 
In 1946, Lillian married Clement Van Loan in Rapids City shortly after his 
return from serving in WW II, and they raised their family of three boys in 
Washington, and Rapids City and New Underwood, SD. In the 1950s, she and Clem 
owned and operated the highway Cafe, a restaurant and gas station in New 
Underwood, where Lillian cooked everything from scratch. After Clem's death in 
1980, she married John Wagster, a long-time friend of the family. They lived 
in Rapid City until 1982, when she retired from her job as an office 
administrator at Ellsworth Air force Base. After moving to Missouri, they 
enjoyed living on their small hobby farm in Farmington until his death in 
1994, when Lillian moved to Ionia to be near her son, Charles, and his family.

Lil had a kind and generous heart, and she never turned away a stray person or 
animal. She was a devout Catholic and enjoyed teaching catechism, 
participating in Rosary Circle, and taking communion to the elderly, as well 
as volunteering at the local food band and hospital gift shop. She cared 
deeply  about social justice and animal welfare, enjoyed reading widely, and 
writing letters to the editor of the Detroit Free Press. Lil's other interests 
included walking her little dogs, playing cards, especially bridge and 
cribbage, watching baseball and genealogy. In her 70s she enjoyed trips with 
her siblings and relatives to explore their Irish and Bohemian roots and to 
visit Vatican city, where she met the Pope. Most of all, she enjoyed spending 
time with her beloved family and pets.

Surviving are her sons Charles (Mary) Van Loan of Ionia and Richard Van Loan 
of Poulbo Washngton; grandchildren Adria (Luke Schmidt) Van Loan of Ionia, 
Michael (Jennifer0 Van Loan of Sunfield, MI, Elizabeth Van Loan of Athen, 
Greece, Christine (AJ) Fry of Seattle, WA, and David Van Loan of Poulsbo; 
great-granddaughters Avery Ann Ellie VanLoan; brother Charles (Bobbie Jo) 
Coyle of Walnut Creek California, sister Joanne Mason of Hopkins, Minnesota; 
many nieces and nephews; and her special friend, Karen Carnegie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Michael Allen VanLoan, and 
grandson Joseph Stilwell VanLoan.

Lillian wished to be cremated, and she will be buried beside her first husband 
and son in Underwood, SD, next spring during the private family service. in 
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your local food pantry 
or animal shelter. Thank you to the Memory Care Unit at Green Acres Ionia, for 
their very kind and tender care for Lillian.

Hail Mary, full of Grace. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the 
Holy Ghost. Arrangement in care of Lake Funeral Home of Ionia.

Online condolences may be made at lakefuneralhomes.com

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