Georgia E. Agner, 80, of Chippewa Falls, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, under the care of St. Joseph’s Hospice.
Georgia was born on Aug. 9, 1942, in Thomasville, Georgia, to Dean and Ruth (Gifford) Smith. She grew up on the family farm in Edina, Missouri and received her B.S. in Medical Technology from the University of Missouri-Mizzou. She was a Medical Technologist for her entire career working at Burlington Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Marshfield Clinic in Eau Claire, and at Mayo Clinic in Chippewa Falls.
Georgia married her soul mate, loving and quick-witted Hugh Agner, in 1967 and lived on Browns Lake in Burlington. Never a dull moment between the two, they both earned their pilot’s licenses and enjoyed flying to visit friends and relatives around the country—with Georgia having the distinction of being one of Wisconsin’s first female pilots!
Georgia’s faith called her to minister to those in need. As such, she was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church at All Saints’ Cathedral in Milwaukee, on June 9, 1991. She served in this role at St. John the Divine in Burlington and at Christ Episcopal Church in Chippewa Falls. She had the honor of serving alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu in May of 1995.
A devoted friend and traveler, she loved going on local and international adventures with her good friends. She loved the theater! She even became somewhat of a groupie of Alfie Boe, who played Jean Valjean in the London and Broadway productions of Les Misérables. Upon meeting Alfie in London, she promised him cheese curds if she ever saw him again. True to her word, Georgia brought him cheese curds at his Chicago show… he enjoyed them in front of everyone!
Georgia was truly loved, and the world was fortunate to have had her in its midst for the last eighty years.
Georgia is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Todd) Heinz of Chippewa Falls; son, David of Burlington; grandchildren, Tyler (Kate), Elliot, and Ava Heinz; great-grandchildren, Oren and Finley Ebert-Heinz; brother, Thomas Smith of Longmont, Colorado; niece, Elizabeth Smith; nephews, Ralph (Terri) Newbury and Raymond “Bud” (Marge) Agner; and many, many dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh R. Agner on June 10, 2005; brother, Gifford Smith; brother-in-law Ralph Agner; sisters-in-law, Rhoda Newbury and Ferne Smith; nephews, Tommy and Randy Smith, and Jack, Dick and Jim Newbury; and niece Nancy Newbury.
Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, 44 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls. Requiem Mass will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 at Christ Episcopal Church, 624 Bay St., Chippewa Falls, with a visitation beginning at noon at the church. The Rev. Canon Aaron Zook will be officiating.
Interment will be at a later date at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church Columbarium in Burlington.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests planting a tree in her memory or contributing to one of her favorite charities: YMCA Camp Manitou, 27960 137th St., New Auburn, WI 54757, in honor of Georgia Agner, or Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin, 424 Galloway St., Eau Claire, WI 54703, in honor of Georgia Agner.
Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services of Chippewa Falls is serving the family. Please share your memories and condolences online at www.pedersonvolker.com.
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