Patricia Jean Wegner, nee Mager, 92, of Belleville, IL, born January 18, 1933, in Belleville, IL, died Monday, January 27, 2025, at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL.
Patricia was the firstborn child to Clyde G. and Eugenia, nee Stoelzle, Mager. She was also the first girl born in the Mager family in 100 years. Her grandparents, Frank H. and Clara, nee Uhl, Mager and Frank F. and Mary Magdalen, nee Brichler, Stoelzle, along with her only uncle, Wib L. and Hazel, nee Hartleb, Mager celebrated this special occasion.
Pat attended Dewey Public Grade School, St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School and BTHS (Belleville Township High School) graduating with the class of 1950. While in high school, she worked at J. J. Newberry & Co, Carroll House of Belleville, and the Wib L. Mager Supply Co.
She married Richard J. Wegner on March 31, 1951, in St. Mary’s Rectory. While he was in the USMC, she traveled to California to be with him in Oxnard and Elsinore. While in Oxnard, she worked at the local Woolworths store. In 1970, as her young family grew, she started working at Belleville Area College, then located on the BTHS East Campus.
In 1974, Pat was hired as the merchandise and supplies buyer for the campus bookstore. Pat retired after 32 years from SWIC (Southwestern Illinois College) in February 2001.
She was a member of St. Peter’s Cathedral Mothers Club, a 22-year volunteer reader for RIS (Radio Information Service, for the blind and print handicapped), former member and Past President of the ABWA (American Businesswomen Association) Belle Clair Chapter, and their 1990 “Woman of the Year.” She was awarded the 1989 “Non-Academic Employee” of the year by Belleville Area College and the “Staff Member of the Year” in 1997 by Southwestern Illinois College.
In recent years, she was a volunteer at the St. Francis Thrift Store.
Pat was preceded in death by her loving husband of 32 years, Richard J. Wegner, who died on December 14, 1983; her fifth daughter, Nancy Jane, on February 11, 1963; her parents, her grandparents, uncle and aunt as listed above; her loving companion of many years, Kirk Dermint; a son-in-law, James Richards; and a sister, Shirley Stoddard.
Surviving are her four daughters, Cynthia (Howard) Reiniger, Debbie (Steve) Craig, Rebecca (Charlie) Fowlkes, and Laurie Richards; her only son, Rick (Kimberly) Wegner; eight grandchildren, Melinda Kinder, Tiffany (Brandon) Riesenberger, Lauren Richards, Amanda (Connor) Odum, Ryan Craig, Jeffrey Craig, Brendan Reiniger, and Zachary Wegner; eleven great-grandchildren, Hailey Kinder, Dakota Kinder, Madison Kinder, Jace Kinder, Kaydn Craig, Ramzey Craig, Jaxon Craig, Elijah Riesenberger, Ella Riesenberger, Waylon Craig, and Kenley Craig; one great-great-grandchild, Lillia J. Kinder; two sisters, Clytie Kleeberg and Frances Black; two brothers, Clyde (Sandy) Mager Jr. and Frank L. Mager; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and friends.
Memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Society or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit the family from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2025, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2025, St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB officiating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
