By Becky Maxedon
A Lake Havasu City Pioneer is someone who moved to the area between 1963 and 1973.
The city was still kind of in the Wild West development mode when Phyllis Wagner and her family relocated from Marion, Iowa, in April 1972.
“When we moved here there were only about 8,000 people. They told us there were about 14,000 people but there weren’t that many.
“Whenever you went downtown or to school functions, you knew most everybody and that was nice.”
The family had a boat and spent a lot of time on the lake and enjoyed water skiing.
On Saturday, Wagner celebrated her 90th birthday surrounded by friends and family at the Lake Havasu Museum of History – a place that was near and dear to her.
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Wagner initially worked at State Bank from 1972 to 1987 – 13 years – until it was sold and she looked for something else.
She tried a stint in Phoenix for seven months. “I came back because I didn’t like the traffic.”
Following her return, Wagner started working at the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce where she remained from 1989 to 1998.
While at the chamber, she worked with the London Bridge Days Parade line-up and wrote the commentary for announcers for a few years.
“I still love watching the parade and have been in a few,” she said.
In 2000, Wagner began yet another career that would last for 20 years.
The Lake Havasu Museum of History was her home until 2020. She was a valuable asset to the museum with her first-hand knowledge of the history of the city.
“I really enjoyed the work at the museum as office manager and bookkeeper.
“Two events I liked there were the Queens Tea, dressing in English costumes, and the annual Christmas Among the Trees party with all the decorated trees.”
Phyllis Wagner always enjoyed the annual Queens Tea presented by the Lake Havasu Museum of History. Photo courtesy of the Lake Havasu Museum of History.
She is credited with naming the Sunset Plaza for Dick Salmon.
Wagner’s three sons and three grandchildren graduated from Lake Havasu High School.
Her son Bart and daughter-in-law Janet and their daughter Lindsay live in Lake Havasu. Their two sons live in Phoenix. The rest of her family, which consists of 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren live in the Phoenix area, California, Ohio and Florida.
“She was wonderful when I married into the family because she had only sons, so she was very happy to have a girl in the family. That was always fun.
“She made sure you felt special and that you were her daughter because she never had one,” Janet Wagner said at the birthday party Saturday.
Another daughter-in-law, Glenda Wagner, married to oldest son Chuck Wagner, said, “I worked with her at the chamber and she was always organized – really organized. Like if you had a question, she was the one that you would ask because she would know who did what.
Phyllis Wagnor and her grandson Reed Wagnor. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
“Everyone knew her, and she was always friendly and happy.”
Phyllis Wagner has been a member of Hilltop Community Church for 53 years.
“It was United Brethren earlier when I was treasurer for a few years,” she said.
She is a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Lake Havasu City. Her membership in the organization totals 60 years.
Phyllis Wagnor greets Barb Gurley at the Lake Havasu Museum of History Saturday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Phyllis Wagnor gets a corsage pinned on her at her 90th birthday party. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Phyllis Wagnor surrounded by family at the her 90th birthday party. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Phyllis Wagnor surrounded by family and friends at her 90th birthday Saturday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
I love Phyllis and have known her about 50 years. We moved here in 1971 and us kids all went to school together as well as Phyllis went to the United Brethren Church with me and was such an inspiration of what a godly woman and great mom is! Love her dearly!