Obituaries

Philip Ambrose Wagner, Jr. age 89, of Erlanger, KY, passed away peacefully at his residence, on Monday, January 12, 2026. He was born to Philip Wagner and Elizabeth (Benzinger) Wagner on October 30, 1936, in Covington, KY. He married Carol J. Leland on August 17, 1968.

Phil retired from Boston Beer Company in 1999. After retirement, he worked seasonally for the Internal Revenue Service and the Kenton County Golf Course. In the early 50's, he was a founding member of the Ju-be-dee Social Club. An enthusiast of all sports, Phil especially loved golf and horse racing. For over two decades, he was actively involved in various local competitive swimming organizations.

He was devoted to his Catholic faith, involving himself in the Cursillo movement, parish ministry as a lector and eucharistic minister, and numerous other church ministries.

Phil was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019 and embraced the opportunity to participate in the Clarity AD trial at the University of Kentucky, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.

Phil was a loving spouse, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife: Carol J. (nee Leland) Wagner; children: Shelly (Rick Alley) Fuller, Brian (Amy) Fuller, Todd (Heather) Fuller, Torre (John) Hinken, Terri (Andy) Griffin, Julie (Brian) Dunham, Allison (John) Williams and Ashley (Will) Blackburn; 31 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Ree (late Jack) Wagner and Marge (late Howard) Wagner and brother-in-law: David (Marianne) Leland.

In addition to his parents, Phil was preceded in death by his sister: Elenore (John "Bobe") Overwine and brothers: Bob Wagner, Richard (JoAnn) Wagner, Jack Wagner, Howard Wagner, and Gene "Bud" Wagner.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 9:00 AM until the Rosary Service at 10:30 AM, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Barbara Church, 4042 Turkeyfoot Road, Erlanger, KY 41018. Interment will take place at Mother of God Cemetery in Fort Wright, KY, at a later date.

Sympathies may be expressed by a memorial contribution to Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at https://medicine.uky.edu/centers/sbcoa/donor-opportunities or by mail at: UK HealthCare Office of Philanthropy, Attn: SBCoA, PO Box 910628, Lexington, Ky 40591 (please mark "SBCoA" on the contribution).