Funeral

Hundreds attend funeral for Assembly candidate's son (OC Reg)

     They remembered Paul Wagner as a charismatic young man who lived life in the moment and was a light for his family and friends.
     Hundreds paid tribute to the 20-year-old son of state Assembly candidate Don Wagner at a funeral Mass at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine Friday morning.
     Clutching his wife Megan, the elder Wagner walked behind his son's casket as it was wheeled into the church for the funeral mass. Paul Wagner, who was found dead in his car Saturday, reportedly had a severely enlarged heart.
     The Rev. George Blais said Paul Wagner had lived "a short life but a life filled with love and concern for his family, for his friends, for his university and for his sports."
     Wagner was home for the summer after finishing up his sophomore year at Purdue University. He was helping out with his father's run for state Assembly.
     Family members previously said Wagner used various medications to cope with bi-polar disorder. A coroner's autopsy early this week was ruled inconclusive and more tests were planned; Don Wagner has said the heart condition could have interacted with the medication.
     During the Mass, Paul's older sister Kate, 23, and younger sister Stephanie, 16, reflected on some humorous memories of their brother and drew laughs and tears in the church.
     Paul Wagner knew all of the words to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and was known for buying gifts related to Purdue University for Christmas and birthdays. He loved passionately and hugged everyone, his sisters said, though he disliked the Lakers and eating pickles.
     Stephanie Wagner recalled when her older brother, under the guise of their father "Mr. Wagner," called her out of school to go to Disneyland. He also had a knack for using his big blue eyes to get into trouble and often out of trouble, his sister said.
     According to his former baseball teammates and buddies, Paul Wagner was a gentle guy who never fought with anyone.
     "He had a big heart," said Spencer Hammond, 20, of Irvine, who attended Northwood High School and played on school's baseball team with Wagner. "He would do anything for his friends."
     At the end of the Mass, friends and family – including his girlfriend of two years Kristine Allen –escorted the casket out of the church singing along to "Hail Purdue," the university's fight song.
     A burial service at El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest followed. A memorial commemorating Paul's life will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Irvine Valley College Performing Arts Center. The memorial is open to the public.