Ignacio resident Kenneth Russell Wagner died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at his home. He was 61. The cause of death is undetermined.

Mr. Wagner was born to Roy and Lila Wagner on Nov. 9, 1950, at Community Hospital in Durango. He graduated from Ignacio High School in 1969.

After studying carpentry at San Juan Vo-Tech, now Southwest Colorado Community College. Mr. Wagner moved to Idaho to work for eight months. He moved back to Durango and worked for La Plata County as a gravel-crusher operator for nine years and then drove a snowplow for the Colorado Department of Transportation for seven years.

He worked at Tamarron Resort for 10 years as a bus driver. He was a ditch rider for Oxford Lateral Ditch for eight years. Throughout his life, he farmed the family property.

Mr. Wagner helped build Pine River Valley Baptist Church and was a member for many years.

He enjoyed hunting, leatherworking and beadworking, fishing, animals and spending time with his nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He used his carpentry skills to build bird houses, toy chests and cabinets.

Mr. Wagner is survived by his sister, Verda Wright, of Pagosa Springs; brothers Herald Wagner of Ignacio and Milton Wagner of Wells, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Cremation will occur. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at the Oxford Grange Hall, 8018 Colorado Highway 172. Burial of ashes will occur at the Oxford Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, District II – Southwest Colorado, 1800 East Third Ave., Suite 101, Durango, CO 81301; or the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St., New York City, NY 10016.