Buddy Eugene Vagts went to be with his long awaited Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 6 2022. He had been surrounded by his wife, daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the love of his life. Buddy was born on June 6, 1935 to Fredric (Fritz) and Amanda (Grafenberg) Vagts. He was baptized at his grandmother’s home across from St Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado, and confirmed in the church at age 12. He credited Raymond Kuhn and Milford Sampson as some of his best Sunday School teachers. His church was the center of all activities growing up. He remembered getting a nickel for the church offering and 1 cent for the Sunday School offering. Rising up at 4:00 am was his devotional time. Although Bud had numerous accomplishments throughout his life, he would say that reading the New Testament of the Bible twice and trying to finish the Old Testament ranked high. His favorite book of the bible was Matthew.
Bud rode his bike to country school in Eldorado. Always a good student, he claimed the only bad report card he got was when his sister, Darlene, was his teacher. Attending West Union High School, Bud kept busy as a tackle on the football team, class president and participated in FFA.
Although his family raised purebred Chester-White pigs, Bud was intent on purchasing a sow from Oklahoma and did so for $140.00 His sow had seven piglets, and he picked out three to show at the fair. Not only did the then teenager show at the local Fayette County Fair, he also advanced to compete and win the Champion Pen of 3 at the Iowa State Fair in 1953.
Upon his high school graduation, Bud set his sights on Iowa State University despite his father’s wish for him to remain on the farm. Selling his entire litter of swine gave Bud enough money to pay for all his tuition and books for all but one year at ISU. He credits his wife, Judy, with her job as a telephone operator, along with his job flipping burgers in a local restaurant to get him through his last year of college.
Bud married his high school sweetheart, Judy Moschel, on August 17, 1958. Graduating from ISU in 1959, Bud and Judy moved from Ames to Ossian to start their life together. His first piece of business was buying a Chevrolet Delray car with no air conditioning to use in his practice. Bud and Judy raised their four children, Beth, Lisa, Lori and Bob in the same home Bud practiced vet medicine. Every Sunday he unloaded his vet supplies from the family vehicle that doubled as a vet truck and took his family to Eldorado to church.
For years, Judy and the children served as Bud’s secretaries and assistants, with farmers stopping by the Main Street home as they needed. As years went by, his practice expanded to include partners, associates and a new building which is now South Winn Vet Clinic.
After 40 years, Bud retired from veterinary medicine in 1999 and filled his days being a devoted Cyclone fan and supporter of his grandkids events. He was a faithful coffee club attendee, and spent a great deal of time in his basement hand-carving and working with wood. He was a generous donator of his carvings to numerous benefits. As a self-taught musician, he enjoyed playing guitar, banjo, organ and piano. Bud never quit reading and learning.
When his hands could no longer carve or paint in detail, Bud made Comfort Birds for his daughters one Christmas. He continued to make over 500 more birds graciously handing them out to strangers who wanted to share this act of comfort with others all over the world.
Bud served on the Ossian Lutheran Church Council and enjoyed serving as “building supervisor” with Art Hemesath. Additionally he served on the Winneshiek County Board of Health, Ossian City Council, Ossian Senior Hospice Board, State Veterinarian Judicial and ethic boards.
He is survived by his wife, Judy, of 63 years; daughters, Beth (Duane Holthaus), Lisa (Ed Hackman), and Lori (Tim Hageman); thirteen grandchildren, Amanda and Aaron Tieskoetter, Paul Hackman, Kristin and Landon Einck, Jon and Lindsey Hackman; Jill & Eric Timp, Holly and Steven Fish, Megan and Adam Martin; Courtney and Steven Huinker, Nolan and Sara Hageman, Colton Hageman and fiancé, Becca Franzen; Brooke and Jack Dressen, Samual and Kaitlyn Vagts, and Olivia Vagts; seventeen great-grandchildren, Hayden, Courtlyn, Hudson, Harper, Liam, Penn, Paisyn, Lucas, Hannah, Boden, Ila, Pearl, Ames, Everett, Walter, Freddy and George.
He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Eugene in 2013; parents, Fredric and Amanda Vagts, in-laws, Albert and Eva Moschel; siblings, Everett (Rosina) Vagts, Herbert (Jeanette) Vagts, Virginia (Ed) Schwenk, Darlene Gibbs and Ardath (Buzz) Cannon.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Friday, March 11, 2022 at Ossian Lutheran Church, Ossian, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral Service will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Ossian Lutheran Church, Ossian, Iowa.
Inurnment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Ossian, Iowa.
Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Ossian, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.