Elene Marie Moden was born August 27,1917 to Ethel Jennie (Carpenter) and Walter Lawrence Moden on the family farm northwest of WaKeeney in Trego County. She passed away on October 24, 2014 at the Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital at the age of 97 years.

Elene graduated from Trego Community High School in 1934 and then began work in the new school library. In 1937, she attended summer school at the University of Colorado in Boulder studying English and Librarianship for Educators. She worked in the library for 5 ½ years until she became engaged to marry. Rules at that time did not allow married women to work so she was forced to resign.

On October 14, 1939, she was united in marriage to William Wagner, a young lawyer who had joined his father’s law firm. To this union, 2 children were born, Linda Elene and Ross Wilson.

Elene was active in the Presbyterian Church, the Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was a charter member of the WaKeeney Literary Club. She was a 55 year member of Chapter CT, P.E.O. She enjoyed bridge, sewing, golf and quilting. Her flower garden with many iris that had been her mother’s, were her pride and joy.

Elene’s interest in family history became a passion for genealogy. She traveled to meet distant relatives, explore cemeteries and went to the Mormon Archives to collect family information. She wrote and published 2 books on her family heritage and a book on the Wagner family heritage. With her passion for history, she also served as the historian for her church and the many other organizations she belonged to.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda Steinle and husband Dave of Georgetown, TX; a son Ross Wagner and wife Diane of WaKeeney, KS; 7 grandchildren: Shawn Mahoney and husband Pat of Overland Park, KS; Shannon Bruggen and husband Joel of Winston-Salem, NC; Erin Woodall and husband Rich of Overland Park, KS; Lindsey Wagner and Heath Markham of Topeka, KS; Talle Dykema of Collyer, KS; Eric Riedel and wife Dane of Hesperia, CA; Jennifer Ganesh and husband Kris of Atlanta, GA and 18 great grandchildren.

Elene was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, sisters Vera Cooper and Mija Rorabaugh and brothers John, Walter and Ernie Moden.

Services will be on Monday October 27 at 1:30 PM at the Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS. Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Presbyterian Church and Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.