Times Herald-Record Middletown, NY 1 Jan 2010 Ernest J. Wagner Sr. Formerly of Middletown, NY Ernest J. Wagner, Sr. of Belleair, FL, formerly of Middletown, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2009. He was 85 years old. He was born in Callicoon, NY on December 28, 1923 to Margaret Sheehan and Adolph Wagner. He grew up in Middletown, the Bronx and College Point, Long Island. At age 17 he joined the CCC Camp. Two years later, Ernie entered the United States Army. In 1943 he went to England and served with the M. Company 3rd Battalion 16th Regimen 1st Infantry Division. He went ashore on the 1st assault wave, known as the Big Red One, Omaha Beach D-Day on June 6, 1944. His battles included: Normandy, The Battle of the Bulge, The Ardennes, Central Europe Rhineland. He was awarded many medals, among them, the Bronze Star and the Croix de Guerre for exemplary bravery by the Belgium Government in Brussels. Staff Sgt. Ernest J. Wagner never forgot his brave brothers in World War II. As Ernie entered the last town of the war, Loket, Czechoslovakia, he met and fell in love with Arnoska Richterova, whom later became his war bride in Hirscheid, Germany. In 1946 they came to America. He remained a patriotic man for the rest of his life. Ernie worked for Harold L. Ayers in Middletown and the Ford Motor Co. in Mahwah, NJ. He retired in 1981. Ernie was known for his great sense of humor. He was always helping others. He loved boating at Lake George and the Gulf of Mexico. He also enjoyed working with wood and making furniture. He never forgot his wife's family in Europe, they were like his own. He is survived by his wife, Arnoska (Anna) Wagner of Belleair, FL; his daughter, Margaret Curabba of Belleair, FL; his two sons, Ernest J. Wagner, Jr. and his wife, Emmy of Point Pleasant, NJ and Ronald H. Wagner and his wife, Lisa of Chester. He was a "Proud Opa" to his grandsons: Todd Curabba and his wife, Rhonda of Dade City, FL, Jason Curabba and his wife, Dawn of Shohola, PA, Steven of Point Pleasant, Michael and Nicole Wagner of Chester and great-grandchildren: Cody, Kyle, Jack, Quinn and Regan Curabba. He is further survived by his sister, Kay Pearson and her husband, Bob of Kelseyville, CA and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brothers: Barney, Charles, Adolph, Otto, Eddie, Phil and Art. Cremation was private. A Memorial Celebration of Ernie's life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements by Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Ave., Middletown; www.applebee-mcphillips.com or 845-343-6309.