Remembering Deacon Martin "Marty" Wager

(Denver Catholic file photo)

Deacon Martin “Marty” Wager, age 75, passed peacefully into the loving embrace of our Lord on May 10, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and servant of Christ, Deacon Wager’s life was marked by humility, quiet strength and faith.

Born in Denver on December 21, 1949, to Elliot Wager and Rita Kennebeck, Deacon Wager was raised in a Catholic home and nurtured in the faith through his upbringing at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.  Like many young adults, he experienced a period of drifting, but through retreats, particularly “The Search Program,” he encountered Christ in a new and profound way.

“Things were going on that awakened me to the fact that God works in some fascinating ways,” he once said, reflecting on his rediscovery of faith.

This encounter led him to discern a vocation and spend a year at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Missouri in 1970. While his path did not lead to the priesthood, it did lead to a deeper understanding of his calling.

On August 30, 1975, he married the love of his life, Kim, at St. Jude Parish in Lakewood. Together, they built a family rooted in love and service, raising their children, Morgan and Katie, and later delighting in their three grandchildren.

Deacon Wager was ordained to the diaconate on June 24, 1989, by J. Francis Cardinal Stafford. He served faithfully at St. Louis Parish in Englewood from 1989 to 2004, and at All Souls Parish in Englewood from 2004 until his retirement on his 75th birthday, December 21, 2024. Throughout his ministry, Deacon Wager was a humble presence with a servant’s heart. His outreach to the vulnerable, especially through the Handicap Ministry (Carron House) and the Courage and EnCourage apostolates, was a quiet witness to Christ’s compassion.

In addition to his ministry, Deacon Wager brought the Gospel into the world through his work: driving school buses for children with disabilities, training others as a driving instructor, traveling the country with the Trailways Bus System and serving in maintenance and management roles. He often said he enjoyed “the contact I had with people and seeing almost all of the United States,” an echo of his love for people and his joy in encountering God’s image in each person.

“Deacon Marty had a gentle strength about him,” said Deacon Ernest Martinez, archdiocesan director of deacons.  “He never sought the spotlight, but his fidelity to prayer, his love for the Church and his quiet acts of service spoke volumes. He was the kind of man who made you want to be better, more faithful, more kind, more Christ-like.”

Deacon Marty is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Kim; his children, Morgan and Katie; and his cherished grandchildren. His life leaves a legacy of faith lived with humility and joy.

A funeral vigil will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at St. Francis Cabrini Parish, 6673 West Chatfield Ave., Littleton, CO.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the same parish.

May Christ the Good Shepherd, whom Deacon Wager served so faithfully, now welcome him into eternal rest. Requiescat in pace.