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Polishing the soul, cleaning the spirit: Mike Wagner shines despite Lou Gehrig's disease



By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news.com

Mike Wagner's medical outlook is bleak, but his mental outlook remains grand.

"My disease is very frustrating," said Wagner, 50, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) six months ago. "But this has encouraged me to polish my soul and clean my spirit for my trip to eternity."

ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

It has afflicted the right side of Wagner's body and he has a difficult time walking and eating. He has lost about 50 pounds in less than a year.

But his mind and spirit remain unaffected.

"I choke and cough a lot," admitted Wagner, who lives in Defiance County's Adams Township. "I can tell you many bad things, but let me tell you some good stuff."

Wagner reads the Bible, prays daily, and asks for forgiveness. He listens to two Christian radio stations. Last weekend he gave his testimony at a religious retreat in Hicksville.

Then there's his prayer group, which meets every Wednesday night in his home.

"It's like a mini-healing service," said Wagner's wife, Brenda. "People come and say prayers for him."

The group includes Jodi Young, Rex (Big Al) Steffel, Mary Rose, Chris Newton and Rhonda Fabiano -- plus Brenda and the four Wagner children: Melissa, 21; Matt, 19; and Ben and Brad, 17.

"Being 'on this team' has been great," said Wagner, who is better known by his nickname, "Main." "My friends have been so kind, and I have been greatly blessed with such a wonderful family. Brenda is a special person and I am very proud of all my kids."

"I don't know how Main could get through this without his faith," said Brenda. "He goes to Mass every Sunday, even if he doesn't feel well. He is still on parish council (at St. Michael's Catholic-the Ridge). Father Dave (Tscherne) has been great through all this."

Wagner was diagnosed with ALS last summer at Cleveland Clinic, shortly after his 50th birthday.

"We started noticing his speech slurring last January," said Brenda. "It took awhile to diagnose it as ALS. You have to rule out everything else first."

His speech has continued to deteriorate and he now walks with a cane.

"The pain isn't so bad," he said. "Mainly it's just my body getting weaker."

Born in 1956, Wagner is the youngest of six children of Cletus and Martha Wagner. He graduated from Tinora High School in 1975.

"I have been going to St. Michael's Ridge since nine months before I was born," he said with a smile.

His five older siblings are Margaret Boff, John Wagner, Joe Wagner, Mary Kay Imber and Jerry Wagner. All live within a few miles of each other.

"We raised cattle and pigs and farmed about 600 acres, so I was always busy," he recalled. "But I still had time for go-karts, mini-bikes, motorcycles and cars.

"On Sunday mornings I remember going to church and sitting way in the back," he added. "That way I could check out all the good looking girls."

He met Brenda Linebrink in 1982 while working as a cook at the Okolona Tavern. They dated about two years before being married in 1984.

"He's always been a big storyteller," stated Brenda. "He takes after his father."

A welder and fabricator by trade, Wagner worked for Holgate Metal Fab for many years before starting his own business in 1999.

"I would always buy something that was broke and fix it up, ride it for awhile, and then sell it for more money than I paid for it," he said. "I have done that with many things all my life."

"He likes to pick up junk off the side of the road," added his daughter, Melissa. "He's famous for that."

Another of his passions is "Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP)," a spiritual renewal program which brings adults together in small groups in order to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and each other.

He vividly recalled his first CRHP retreat, held at St. John Catholic Church in Defiance in 1993.

"I signed up, but really wasn't that excited about going," he reflected. "A few days beforehand, my wife asked me if I knew it lasted the entire weekend. I didn't want to go for that long, but I went because there wasn't enough time to call and cancel."

Added Wagner: "That retreat was when my spirit became alive. Father Tom (Wehinger) was the priest at St. John's at the time. That weekend encouraged me to do many things. I became a part of the CRHP team, a eucharistic minister and took communion to shut-ins. I even joined the K of C."

Wagner will be the guest of honor for a "tribute roast" at the Northwest Ohio Men's Fellowship meeting Saturday morning at the St. John Catholic Church fellowship hall. Coffee and fellowship begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast at 8 a.m. (free-will donation).

In addition, Wagner's friends are currently planning a benefit on his behalf April 22 at the Defiance K of C Hall.

"Main has been very involved in church, school and other community activities," said Brenda. "He has done so much for so many people. Everyone knows him."
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