John Macneil Wagner

John MacNeil Wagner, family man, Harley aficionado, master of bad jokes and generosity, dog lover, loyal friend and noted beer drinker passed away on September 12, 2021.

John was born in Indianapolis on December 5, 1964 and except for attending 4 years of college in Milwaukee at Marquette, spent his whole life in Indianapolis.  He loved his hometown and made countless friends there over the 56 years of his big,full life.  John never met a stranger and had the uncanny ability to disarm everyone within seconds of meeting them either by making them giggle uncontrollably or shake their heads in disbelief.  He cultivated friends everywhere he went; in grade school, high school, college, and in his professional life, then maintained these friendships throughout his life. He loved a good steak, big bikes, the Boston Red Sox, his 1974 Indy Pace Car, and all things Notre Dame. But above all else, John loved his family. Like his father before him, he preferred to be his own boss.   He liked to call the shots and play by his own rules.  He ran the business he founded, Indy Appraisal Services, for over 30 years.  In that time he performed over thirty thousand appraisals throughout central Indiana, which he proudly proclaimed was more than anyone else had ever done.

The happiest day of John’s life was October 4, 1997, when his son Jack was born.  From that day on, Jack was his proudest accomplishment and the light of his life.  His love for Jack was boundless and deep.  Jack’s achievements in school, sports, and recently in the business world filled John with an overflowing sense of pride. Even above their shared love for a good steak, cold beer, and deep conversation, John and Jack bonded most over their mutual love for the game of baseball. John cherished dearly their annual tradition of visiting a different Major League ballpark each summer—having made 16 separate trips together.

In a close tie for the next two happiest days of John’s life were the day Lexie became his daughter, and the day he met his sweetheart, Rebecca Carl.  Lexie was the apple of John’s eye – the daughter he always wanted. John and Lexie had a very tight bond that would make one assume Lexie was his own. John extended his father’s love and affection to Lexie as well as to Rebecca’s two daughters, Olivia and Sarah.  Rebecca was John’s partner, sidekick and best friend for the last several years. John was, simply, his best self with Rebecca. He told her he wanted to love her more than anyone else ever had, and he did.  Rebecca once mentioned to John that her dream car was a late 90’s Jaguar, so he bought her one.  He and Rebecca loved 80’s movie nights, Friday morning breakfasts at Biscuits restaurant, going to the Plaka in Fort Myers to eat on the beach, and exploring every where they went on their electric bikes.

One of John’s favorite places on earth was Scituate, Massachusetts, a family summer home where his parents were engaged.  He spent all his childhood summers there running around on Egypt Beach, throwing jelly fish at his siblings, playing Truth or Dare, jumping off Stagecoach at “the rocks”, counting the signals of Minot Light, sailing with his dad off the coast, and as he grew older, exploring the various delicacies and libations in hah-bah bars (that’s harbor to non-New Englanders).

John’s “live large” philosophy extended to his generosity towards others.  He funded several full scholarships to Cathedral high school, allowing many disadvantaged kids to receive an education they otherwise would not have been able to afford.  Letters from these grateful parents thanked John for the difference he had made in their children’s lives; advantages that lasted long after their graduation dates, resulting in living lives beyond their dreams. John was also known for other more random acts of generosity; such as the night he met a US Soldier who was leaving the next day for a tour in Afghanistan. That night, John picked up the dinner tab for the soldier and his wife and thanked him for his service, then proceeded to stay in touch with the soldier throughout his tour and after his return.

Born the fifth of seven children, John was a loving, devoted son to his parents Muffy and Charlie.  He always chose to live on the north side of Indy so he could be close to them.  He loved nothing more than spending time with them watching the Red Sox, the Colts, or Notre Dame, making bad jokes and constantly vying for the pole position as their favorite child.  He never tired of reminding his siblings that he was the self-ordained Favorite, a title often argued over but never, ever relinquished by John.  He continued to care for his parents and spend time with them as their needs increased over the years, helping them tirelessly as they moved into assisted living and memory care.

John is preceded in death by his father, Charles G. Wagner; his mother Margaret “Muffy” Wagner; and his sister, Mary F. Nelson.  John is survived by his son John Robert “Jack” Wagner; his stepdaughter Alexas Jordan Wheeler; his sweetheart Rebecca Carl (Olivia and Sarah); his brothers Charles F. Wagner(Elissa), Daniel F. Wagner (Jan) and Michael G. Wagner (Lisa); his sisters Margaret Bower (Michael); Ann Bourque (Peter); cousin/sister Theresa Hufford (Andy); and the mothers of his children, Beth McCrocklin and Jamie Wheeler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marion County Humane Society (https://indyhumane.org/about/ways-to-give/).

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Flanner Buchanan – Carmel, 325 East Carmel Drive.  A Memorial Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 5692 Central Avenue.  A reception will follow the mass beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 2100 East 71st Street.