April 5, 1942 - February 10, 2025 Beatrice Kaye Wagner

Beatrice Kaye Wagner, known to her many friends and acquaintances as Kaye, died February 10, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. A longtime resident of the San Fernando Valley, Kaye lived the final two years of her life at Belmont Village in Calabasas, where she was cared for and appreciated. She died from complications resulting from dementia.

Kaye Wagner was born April 5, 1942, in Central City. She is survived by her nephew, Randy Wagner, living in Denver, Colorado, and her niece Cynthia Wagner Weick and Cynthia’s husband Brian, residents of Carmel, California, and Boulder, Colorado. In addition, great nephew Zane Wagner and wife Ari live in Minneapolis, great niece Elizabeth Wagner lives in Baltimore, and great nephew Ian Wagner lives in Portland, Oregon. Kaye’s parents, Esther and John Howard Wagner, predeceased her, as did her older brothers Forrest and Richard and Richard’s wife Gloria, Kaye’s sister-in-law.

Kaye grew up in Grand Island, graduating from high school there in 1960. She played in the school band and was a competitive swimmer. She worked summers at the Grand Island city pool as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. Kaye attended the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1964 with a physical education major and a math minor. She was a member of the Tri Delta Sorority, and she worked summers at Pioneer Park in Lincoln. Upon graduation, Kaye immediately moved to Los Angeles, taking a job with the Los Angeles Unified School District and residing in Encino before settling in Tarzana, where she lived until December 2022, when she moved to Calabasas.

Kaye worked for L.A. Unified for forty-plus years, holding teaching and staff/administrative positions at Monroe High School, Grant High School and Birmingham High School. At Monroe, for twenty years she directed a successful dance program. In her long public education career, Kaye made many friends for life among fellow teachers, staff, administrators and students. She traveled widely in the U.S. and to many parts of the world.

For years she played mahjong with a group of special friends. Throughout her life, Kaye was an avid and knowledgeable sports fan, supporting Nebraska and Southern Cal football, UCLA basketball, and especially the Dodgers. A series of cats shared her home. Her favorite was Angus. In her last years at Belmont Village, she made more friends, especially with staff members working there. Kaye lived a full and active life and was loved dearly by family and friends. She was known as a thoughtful and dependable relative, educator, and friend.

Kaye Wagner will be interred with deceased members of her family in the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice on Saturday, June 7, 2025. A Celebration of Life Service is planned on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM CST at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice. Memorials may be directed to the organization of the donor’s choice.

As we remember Kaye, we invite you to share your memories and upload photos to her memorial page at www.ghchapel.com. Your stories and images will serve as a comforting reminder of the love she had for all who knew her.

Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice is handling arrangements.