John and Louise Wagner/Vander Wagen Family

John Vander Wagen was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from high school during the Great Depression and with no employment opportunities in Grand Rapids, he moved to Zuni, New Mexico to join the Andrew and Effa Vander Wagen family. John had two cousins, Bernie and Richard, who opened the Vander Wagen Trading Post in Zuni and he worked with them in operations and bookkeeping. He became attached to the southwest and to the Zuni and Navajo tribes. However, he realized he was called to a different occupation, so he enrolled in college in the late 30’s and earned his Doctor of Optometry degree in the early 40’s.
John opened his first practice in Loveland, Colorado and later bought an optometry practice in Canon City, Colorado. The seller convinced him it would be a “good business move” to shorten his name to Wagner, so he did. The business flourished. Once established in Canon City, John met and married Louise, and for over three decades they worked together in the practice of optometry. In the late 80’s, John and Louise retired and moved to West Pueblo, Colorado, where they died in the 1990’s.
John valued education. The Wagner/Vander Wagen scholarship is intended to help Calvin students who have interest in the professions of optometry and ophthalmology.