Rachel Wagner, 95, of Loveland, Colorado, passed away September 7, 2021 at home.

Rachel Wagner's life is a story well-written. She was a kind, caring, loyal, smart, and strong woman. She was a loving, faithful, compassionate daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:29-31

Rachel was born on March 3,1926 to Alex and Mary Weitzel, German immigrants from Russia.  She was born near Lake Alice, about nine miles north of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She was proud of her heritage and had fond memories of her childhood. She would tell of long summer days working with her family in the sugar beet and bean fields. Rachel attended Lake Alice School through 10 ^th grade. In 1940 her family moved to a farm near Bridgeport, Nebraska. There she met James Wagner. They were married on January 27, 1945, soon after James returned to the US after serving in the South Pacific during World War II.

Rachel was a master at making a house a home. She lived in many different houses in Nebraska, Colorado, Washington and South Dakota during her married life. She has been living with her youngest daughter, Billie, since December 2010.

Rachel is survived by a brother, Joseph Weitzel, and two sisters, Esther (Bill) Houston, Martha (Woody) Woodiel, and a sister-in-law, Susan Weitzel. She is also survived by her children, Karen (Roy) Newton of North Platte, Nebraska; Diana (Ed) Stooshnov of Sicamous, British Columbia; James (Debbie Belle) Wagner of Doland, South Dakota; Debbie (Charlie) Shimmin of Gothenburg, Nebraska; and Billie (Bruce) Miller of Loveland, Colorado. She is survived by 18 grandchildren, Candy Newton (Amy) of North Platte NE; Dan Newton (Nicki) Newton of North Platte Ne; Sheri Newton of North Platte NE; Sean Newton (Chelsea) of Omaha NE; and Shad Newton (Mandy) of North Platte NE; Michael Stooshnov (Chelsea) of Sicamous, BC; Tawn Liddicoat of Kelowna BC; Lanaya Stooshnov of Calgary AB; Heather Wieshlow of Laguna Niguel CA; James Wagner of Doland SD, Teri Hofer (Mike) of Doland SD; Nathan (Melissa) Trowbridge of Tremonton, UT; Scott Shimmin (Sara) of Cave Creek AZ; Michael Shimmin (Rachel) of Waukesha WI; Kristen Smedley (Jonathan) of Cambodia; Lyndi Miller (Philip) of Gothenburg NE; Blanche Randolph (David) of Hemingford NE; Benton Miller (Julie) of Maxwell NE; Beneth Fryman (Jeremy) of Fairborn OH; and Betsie Lewis (Adam) of Puugi, Estonia.

Rachel's great-grandchildren are Austin Riddle, Marisa Tyler of North Platte NE; Travis Riddle of Illinois; Cody Newton (Anessa) of North Platte, NE; Devan Newton and Aaron Kruesher of North Platte NE; Ashlynn Baker of North Platte Ne; Tyson Risse, Gracie Risse and Jacob Newton of North Platte NE; Edguin Gio, Mercedes and Oliver of Omaha;  Mariah and Alaya Liddicoat of Kelowna BC; Jamie Wagner-Lutter of Redfield, SD, Lydia Wagner of Doland SD; David Remily of Brookings SD; Trent and Julian Remily of Doland SD; Jade, Lincoln and Lucas Trowbridge of Tremonton, UT;  Luke and Noelle Shimmin of Cave Creek, AZ; Lila and Lannon Shimmin of Waukesha WI; Isaiah, Silas, Isabella, Josiah and Leilani Smedley living in Cambodia; Brant, Rachel, Aranni Miller of Gothenburg NE; Alexis Eaton of Pleasant Grove, UT; Jason Randolph (Lacey) of Fort Collins CO; Mikayla Randolph of Hemingford NE; Gregory, Nathan and  Natasha Randolph of Hemingford NE; Whitney, Natalie Tobye, Corey, Lexi and Felicity Miller of Maxwell NE; Josi and Zane Fryman of Fairborn OH; Jazmynn, Baxter, Ciarra and Willow of Puugi, Estonia. Rachel's great-great-grandchildren are Zoey, Addison, Jessa, Asher and Oakley.

Rachel was preceded in death by her husband, James Wagner, two infant sisters, her parents Alex and Mary Weitzel, brothers David, Robert, and Albert and sister Helen; brother-in-law Norbert Albers, sisters-in-law Lucy Weitzel, Mary Lou Weitzel.

Rachel left her earthly body on September 7, 2021 and is now strong and healthy in the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ. Mom's confidence was in Jesus. She believed in the truths in Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." She also lived with the hope found in 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight). We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Services will be held 11:30 A.M., Monday, September 13, 2021, at the Parkview Nazarene Church in North Platte, NE with Pastor Bruce Miller officiating.  Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.  Visitation will be held 5:00-7:00 P.M., Sunday, September 12, 2021, with family present, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, North Platte, NE. Adams Swanson is in charge of arrangements.

All gifts given in Rachel's memory will be designated for the Foothills Baptist Church Scripture Printing Ministry. Send Memorials to Foothills Baptist Church designated in honor of Rachel Wagner. Address is Foothills Baptist Church, PO Box 771, Loveland, CO 80539.