Jo Ellen Wagner's Obituary
Jo Ellen Wagner of Mansfield, Ohio, passed away Friday, August 2, 2024, after a brief stay in Devon Oaks Assisted Living Community of Westlake.
She was born March 15, 1942, in Warren, Ohio, and lived briefly in Wooster before settling in Mansfield. She was an active tomboy, hunting with her father, conducting explosive chemistry experiments, playing piano, and relishing roller skating competitions before graduating from Mansfield Senior High in 1960.
Jo married Nick Orosan at St. Peters Parish in February 1961. After the death of their firstborn, Kevin, Jo gave birth to Tony in June 1965 and 3 additional children, Pam, Jen, and Nick, in rapid succession. Jo made their Ontario home a haven for family and friends, celebrating around beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, towering buckeye trees, a fresh spring lake, swimming pool with shady back patio, and even a refinished basement playroom with pool, darts, and draft beer. They gardened and canned annually, filling the root cellar, chopped wood to feed multiple indoor stoves, and improved the property endlessly, with help from family and friends. Jo raised her children with a firm but loving grip. She also transported them to nonstop church, masonic, music and sporting activities, becoming Mom Orosan to so many other kids with her endless patience, deep hugs, and delicious homemade treats, from cakes and cookies to giant pots of spaghetti, all made with love. Jo was delighted as well being the co-pilot and head chef for annual family vacations in the renovated Orange Crate school bus camper to State Parks across the eastern United States.
As children grew, Jo returned to work first with Mansfield City Schools and then Trans Engineering. Her career blossomed over 25 years at Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority, where her big heart, thoughtful consideration, and direct style helped both manage properties and place thousands of families in need.
Jo and Nick divorced, but she found love again with Leslie Wagner, adding two new daughters, Kelley and Kathy Wagner. Les and Jo regularly hosted family and friends at home, cooking the famously huge Wagner 2-inch sirloin steaks, manicotti, french silk pies, christmas cookies, fudge, butterballs, and kieflies, among other delights. They loved to golf and travel, whether visiting their five children and six grandchildren, attending Ohio State Buckeye events, touring Alaska and the Grand Canyon, exploring the east coast with Aunt Evelyn Rinearson Kent during their biannual Florida trips, or simply going for a drive to look at houses. Jo also committed extraordinary time caring for elderly relatives, including mother Alice Bush, stepmother JoAnn Bush, in-laws Les and Betty Wagner, former mother-in-law Anna Orosan, and her Aunt Evelyn.
Jo retired shortly after Les passed from cancer, adopting a rescue Pekingese, Baby, who was her beloved constant companion to the end. And she continued serving others, volunteering with Hospice of North Central Ohio and regularly attending St. Peters Parish.
Jo is survived by her children: Pamela and Andy Orosan-Weine of Ann Arbor, MI; Jennifer Orosan of Shaker Heights; Nick and Kelsey Orosan of Elyria; Kelley Wagner of Midland, MI; and, Kathy and Kevin Keith of Seattle, WA; grandchildren Anna Orosan-Weine, Gabriel Orosan-Weine, Grant Wiese, Estelle Wiese, Connor Keith, and Ainsley Keith; sister, Susie Patrick of Slidell, LA; and, brother, Robert and Chris Bush of Fort Wayne, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Alice Bush, sons Kevin and Tony Orosan, her beloved husbands Nick Orosan and Leslie Wagner, and many other cherished friends and family members.
As she wished, immediate family will gather soon for private interment with her husband, Les, at Mansfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio online or physically to 1021 Dauch Dr., Ashland, Ohio 44805
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