Final Salute

Laverne Merton “Mert” Wager Obituary

Laverne Merton “Mert” Wager passed away peacefully on June 27th, 2020 at the age of 95.

He was born April 2, 1925 in Niagara Falls, NY, the son of Merton Laverne Wager and Florence Metz Wager.

Mert graduated from LaSalle High School, then was a voluntary inductee into the US Navy Seabees. A veteran of WWII, he served in the South Pacific (New Guinea) theatre for three years.

Mert married Dorothy Johnson on December 22, 1945.

He worked for Niagara Mohawk Power Company for 34 years, first as a hot stick lineman, then ended his career as an administrator for the Trouble Department in Buffalo. They lived in the Town of Wheatfield during those years.

After retirement, they summered in Dansville, NY, where he had built a summer getaway, and wintered in Tucson, AZ.

Mert was an exceptionally talented man. He built two homes and two cabins, did carpentry work on the side, and had a “Yankee Workshop” at their home, making early American furniture.
Mert was also an amazing artist – self-taught. He got serious about painting at the age of 40, using mostly acrylic paints. He completed well over 1,000 paintings in the last 50 years. His favorite subjects were western art, horses, birds, and Amish scenes. His paintings are held by collectors all over the USA, and his pride and joy was “White Horse,” a painting of an Indian that was presented to the Crown Prince of Japan in 1974.

Mert was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy; his daughter, Amy; his son, Christopher (Robin); and an “adopted” brother, Daniel Brown.

He is survived by daughters, Jane (Gerald Lynn) Williams and Penny (Tim) Simpson; grandchildren, Megan Moelbert, Marnie Aldrow, Thomas Sayle, Katrina Evans, Adam Simpson, Michael Wager, Zinah Wager and Christine Catlin; and great-grandchildren, Lauren, Derek, Anya, Ginny, Carter, Harper, and Steven.

A private celebration of his life will be held at future date and those who wish to contribute in his memory may do so to the Hope United Methodist Church 2914 Upper Mountain Rd. Sanborn, New York 14132.

Please share words of comfort with Mert’s family at tomaszewskifh.com or for more information, please call Michael at (585)343-7500.

The family of Laverne Merton Wager is being cared for by the MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC, 4120 West Main Street Road, Batavia, New York 14020.