Doris Joan (Metzger) Wagoner (known as Joan), of Rossville, was born to David and Frances (Eikenberry) Metzger on June 4, 1931, at her Aunt Etta Huffman’s home in Sawyer, Kansas. She grew up on the Kansas plains of wheat fields under clear blue skies, of which she often talked of how thankful she was to grow up on a farm where her family was home everyday and learned to work together. She spent her teen years helping a neighbor care for their two children, whom she still kept in touch with.
Doris was baptized into Christ in the Old German Baptist Brethren Fellowship at Sand Creek, Kansas on October 30, 1946, by Elder John Reece and remained faithful til death.
At the age of 16, she came to Indiana to be with Grandma Caperna Eikenberry, aunts, uncles, and cousins whom she always missed in Kansas. While in Indiana she met and married her beloved “Chet” Chester Wagoner on June 12, 1949. They spent 64 happy years together, spending his last few years faithfully being cared for by Joan in his declining health until his passing on September 2, 2013. Their home was blessed with four children. They spent their married life in Bachelor Run, North Fork, and Middle Fork Districts. In 1977, they made their final Earthly move to their Rossville Home.
Although in later years she seldom left her beloved home, Joan so much enjoyed all the phone calls, visits and letters. She was thankful to be able to remain in her home until almost the very end. On December 20, 2025, she fell and fractured her pelvis and spent four days in the hospital. She then was moved to Mulberry Health on Christmas Eve for rehab. She was able t spend four days there with her daughter, Jolene, before her sudden and unexpected passing in the early morning of December 29, 2025.
Joan leaves behind her daughter, Jolene Wagoner of Mulberry Health; sons, John Wagoner, wife Mable (Hess) of Waynesboro, PA and Jim Wagoner, wife Mildren (Hess) of Greencastle, PA; and daughter, Juanita Kuns, Husband Steve Kuns, of Flora. Also surviving are eighteen grandchildren; 82 great grandchildren; seventeen great great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, Emer and Lydia (Yoder) Wagoner; brother David Metzger, Jr., and wife Gladys; sister, Better and husband Delphus Eichman; brother-in-law, Russell Wagoner and wife Bernice; sister-in-law, Mary and husband, Glen Oyler; great grandsons, Adrian Gant Hollinger and Andrew Bennett Wagoner; and great granddaughter, Mari Anne Hess.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 3, 2025, from 1to 5pm, and 6 to 8pm at Middle Fork Old German Baptist Brethren Church. Funeral service will be held, 10am, Sunday at the church. Burial will follow at Middle Fork Old German Baptist Brethren Cemetery. Day & Genda Funeral Home ~ Bodine Chapel is assisting with the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left at www.dayandgenda.com.