Poem Found in Paul's Safety Deposit Box and Burial Location

First off we would like to thank everyone who has helped us out. We encourage you to check out the last few blog posts to see the journey we have been on. Please continue to pray for Karen, as it is hard to lose someone you have been married to for over 36 years.

Second, the location of where Paul buried is across the street of the Monticello Methodist Church at 23860 W 75th St Shawnee, KS 66227.

Here is a poem we just found that Paul put in the safety deposit box. I do not think he knew how much it would reflect his life.

I may have lived longer
I may have lived longer had I done more to stay alive
Eat my vegetables
Limit my intake of bad stuff
Exercise more regularly
Breathe only clean air
Drink only pure water
Shake hands of only the healthy
Reduce my stress level
Avoid bad neighborhoods at night
Not be a missionary
'but, God has appointed man to die and then the judgement...'
'I don't live to live long but to live forever, so...'
Become a Christian
Tell many about Jesus
Pray for God's direction in life
Serve well
Obey all God has asked in his word
Number the days this short life
Die ready to face judgment.

jerry kizzire

A Son's Thought

I am Nick, the youngest son of Paul and Karen Wagoner. It seemed very appropriate for me to express my thoughts of my dad's funeral on Monday.

I guess I just want to say thank you to everyone who showed, especially the speakers. Mr. Zeplin, J.D. Asbell, Andrew "Uski" Straub, my brothers, and Uncle John. I know if Paul was there to hear everyone speak he would have been so proud and honored. I believe that both the songs played and the speeches given did a remarkable job showing the WHOLE life of Paul Wagoner.

Mr. Zeplin said things that even I didn't know. I had no idea just HOW successful a worker my dad truly was. He showed what "the best of friends" means and really asked the tough question "can you say that you have never been this close to the Lord than ever before?"

J.D. Asbell was a cherished friend of my father's. You told my dad's true love for the Lord, his family and his friends. You showed people just how good God was in my father's life.

Andrew who will always be "Uski" to the Wagoner family. My dad gave Andrew the nickname "Uski" and to this day no one really knows why or where Paul got it. Paul loved everyone who stepped foot in our home. Andrew truly to honor Paul with his words. It is funny how when people honor God, He honors us.

And of course I loved the speeches given by my brothers. Powerful speeches that would put a huge smile on both my earthly father's and Heavenly Father's face.

Uncle John your story of Jesus and what He did on the cross was powerful. You showed what Christ did for my dad and because my dad put His trust in Christ, he can and DID enter the gates of Heaven. Amen. You also showed my dad's love for people. I enjoyed it all.

I know there are perfect wedding, but I never thought there could be a perfect funeral. Now don't get me wrong, losing my father is and will continue to be something hard to face. But the reality is he ran the race set out before Him and is now in eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The goal of my speech at the funeral was to show my dad's life and that he truly did leave a legacy for us all to live. A legacy of a Godly man, worker, husband and father.

Christ was honored by the life of Paul.

Nick

Funeral Information

Paul Donald Wagoner, 59, of Shawnee, KS went to be with the Lord on April 21, 2011 in KC, MO after a short battle with cancer. Paul was born in 1951 in Omaha, NE to Robert and Helen Wagoner. On June 1, 1974 he married Karen Jean Nihsen in Council Bluff, IA and they later had three sons, Ryan, Mark, and Nick.

Paul was a successful wholesale pharmaceutical distribution manager with many distinctions and honors showing his work ethic and superior relationships to the people he worked beside. Paul will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and cherished friend. He touched the hearts of many and was a true blessing to all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Karen Wagoner, sons Ryan and wife Tabitha Wagoner; Mark Wagoner; Nick Wagoner, two grandchildren Abigail and Logan Wagoner all of Shawnee, KS; his father Robert Wagoner of Louisville, NE, brother Wayne and wife Elise of Ralston, NE, sister Mary and husband with husband Ed Icenogle of Denver, CO, mother-in-law Lavon Nihsen of Council Bluffs, IA and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Helen Anna Wagoner and his father-in-law Kenneth Adolf Nihsen.

To celebrate Paul’s life, family and friends will hold a visitation at 10am and a memorial service at 11am on Monday, April 25, 2011 at the Mill Creek Community Church 7825 Gleason Road, Shawnee, KS 66227.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to help offset funeral costs.

Pam Laffler will be coordinating donations of meals/ requested items. Please call her at 913-244-9329

Paul went to be with Jesus

On Thursday April 21, 2011 Paul D. Wagoner passed away and is now with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He fought the good fight and is now home. He passed away about 5:25 p.m. He died with his family around his bed with his wife holding his hand... the way he would have wanted it.

We truly appreciate ALL the support from everyone during this difficult time.
Funeral information will be posted as soon as possible.

The Wagoner Family

Wise words from Abby

Well as you can imagine the family is tired today. The doctor said it could be anytime now. Paul did wake up a little today and asked me (Mark) in a whispering voice, "wheres mom". Karen came in and was able to comfort him. He knows we are all there for him and praying. We are blessed to have so many people take time out to see him and for those who have made and brought food for us.

Abby asked for Ryan today and Tabitha said daddy was at the doctor with Papa cause remember he is sick. She said "yeah... papa is going to heaven and Jesus is my friend and is gonna take care of him" This is the second time she has said this.

View from the bed

Here is a view from Paul's bed. We have read all of the cards and notes and are thankful. The nurse said, "most don't have that many cards. In fact almost no one does." Even today with all of the pain medication he notice that there was a new card added to the collection.

Thank you!

Needing a helping hand

We appreciate all the support from friends and family. This would be so hard without the love and support from friends and family. So much of you have asked HOW you can HELP and here is a list of things the Wagoner family could use:

- our lawn mowed
- Gas cards (there is a great deal of driving done to and from the hospice)
- meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the hospice; fruit bowls are nice. Gift cards for groceries.
- prayers and visitors :)
- drinks (water, Gatorade, pop, etc.)
- Buy our house :)
- tell us your memories of Paul
- sit down and listen to mom :)

Call us if you have any questions
Karen's Cell (913)- 314-4661
Nick's Cell (913)-269-4934
Mark's Cell (913)-269-4889
Ryan's Cell (913)-481-2812

Thanks!

Thanks for all the love and support!

Spent the majority of the day with Paul. They have increased his pain medication and consequently Paul is in and out of sleep. He can hear us talking, but is to weak to talk back. We appreciate all the visitors, flowers, cards, house work and breakfasts, lunches and dinners that people have brought to us. I don't know how we could have gone through all this without the love and support from family and friends!

God is good to us. And soon, Paul will be with Jesus in eternity. What a beautiful picture. We all are so grateful that we had the opportunity to tell Paul how much we love and appreciate him.
.

Blessings from our friends and the doctors news

Paul is getting weaker by the day. The doctor recently increased his dosage of morphine to help ease the pain. She said he still has a little bit of strength left in him and has a few more days.

The hospice house has been a nice place to stay given the circumstances. We have been grateful for all of the meals that have been brought to us by our friends. Tonight a church organization donated food to the entire place so we got to eat a nice hot meal. Many people have blessed us and we are grateful. Last night we prayed with dad. With hardly any strength left in him, Paul thanked God for his family and friends.

Out Side and Some Gospel Music

Today Paul got to spend some time outside! Also, a women who is a worship pastor and does music therapy came by Paul's room today. And of course he requested her to play some Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. She ended with one of dads favorite songs How Great Thou Art.

As the days go on we realize how much we miss dad being home. Mom was telling us that every morning for the past 36 years her and Paul would get up 30 minutes earlier than needed just to have coffee with one another.

A Beautiful Day Outside

Quality Family Time

Dear Friends and Family,
another wonderful day at the hospice. There has been a great deal of visitors coming to see Paul. He LOVES to see his friends and family come by. The family is pretty exhausted and is fast asleep.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support.
A thought for the day:
my family (and friends) would LOVE to have Paul healed and live another 20 to 30 years. But the reality is, he is going to be healed when he goes to be with the Lord. That IS the best thing for him and for everyone who is a follower of Christ. It IS and WILL be hard losing Paul. That is a fact and a reality of life. But also, the reality is he will be with Jesus for eternity. He has left a WONDERFUL legacy.

I don't think we could have made it through all this without God, family and prayer.
Thanks to you all
The Wagoner family

Saying Goodbyes is hard...

Yesterday was a beautiful picture of family and friends that had come to spend time with Paul in his last days. We all joined together holding hands in a circle to pray together as a family to pray for Paul, to thank God for saving my father and changing his life. It was a bitter sweet moment, or as Paul calls it, "a win, win." In the family circle we asked Paul if he had anything to say. He said,
"I have never been closer to the Lord than I am now. If you need anything, make sure to look up."

Paul is enjoying his stay at the Kansas City Hospice Center. He is grateful for all the company of family and friends. It is a beautiful time of family coming closer together. With the 50 plus people that have visited since Paul arrived, it is evident of how many lives he has impact.

The family knows that there are sleepless nights to come as we wait for the news.

Busy dad at the hospital

Both Paul and Karen's family came in all over from Omaha, Denver, Council Bluffs and a special visit from his good friend Andrew Straub, who drove 15 hours from Ohio just to see Paul. Thanks to Laura Burch and the Maranatha students for your prayers and songs for Paul. He and his family are very thankful for everything. We appreciate all the people who came by to see Paul.
They will move Paul to hospice at 7:00 p.m. to spend his remaining days. The address is:
Kansas City Hospice Place
12000 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145-1117
(816) 941-1000

Paul's final days

At the hospital now with Paul. He is not looking very good. The doctors have taken him off of his fluids/IVs and have given him stronger pain medicine. He is in a great deal of pain. His blood pressure has dropped to 84 and it does not look like he will make it to next week. He is ready to go and be done with the pain. Thank you to everyone who has visited Paul and have been praying for us. Paul has continually told his family how much of a blessing it is to have his family and friends with him during all this. And as he told us "I don't know how people could go through something like this without family. To die alone would be awful" The Wagoner Family.

An Unfortunate Update

We found out today from a body scan that Paul's cancer has spread to other areas of his body including his bones, other lung, and adrenal glands. We have been informed that he only has a few weeks to live. As you can imagine it has been a hard day for the family. Tomorrow a hospital team is meeting with our family to decide what the best plan of action is. We spent the evening with Paul and had some tough conversations about planning his funeral and also talked about life without him. We also talked about old memories with him when we were young boys.

Please keep us, especially Paul in your prayers tonight as he lies in his bed knowing that he will soon be in his heavenly home. There is a lot of work to be done.

We bought him an ice cream cone tonight and guess what. He ate the whole thing. He always did have a sweet tooth for ice cream. Here is a picture

Day 6 at the Hostpital

It has almost been a week since Paul was admitted into the hospital. He is slowly getting better every day. He took his first bite of solid food in about 8 days on Friday night. However, he has a long way to go with eating. They have taken him off of the morphine drip, and he is now taking a pill form of another painkiller. Paul says his throat and esophagus still hurt, and sounds like it would be the equivalent of having a third degree sun burn on your throat. The main concern has been getting his pain level under control, then getting him back to drinking and eating. They are pumping fluids in him now. He is still very weak and will need to be in physical therapy. They will release him once he can start to eat solids and drink liquids. We appreciate all of the people who have stopped by to see him, and also for the flowers, gifts and cards. One always had to keep an eye on Paul. This picture is in his room.