Alexander J. Waag

Alexander Waag passed away on January 15, 2017.

Alexander Waag was born in Mintern, Nebraska on October 16, 1925. His parents, Carl and Marie (Mary) Waag, and his two oldest sisters, Frieda and Elizabeth, emigrated to the United States from Grimm, Russia on the SS Prinz Oskar from Hamburg on January 24, 1912.

Nicknamed "Jim" he grew up in Fort Collins in an area of town known as the "jungles" along with a host of other Germans from Russia. In 1944 Jim joined the US Marine Corp and fought in World War II in the battles of Saipan and Tinian, Japan in 1944 and Iwo Jima in 1945 returning home with a purple heart. In 1948 he married his first wife, Norma Jean Steinman (now Dinkelman) and had three children: Cynthia, Stephanie and Tony.

Jim worked for many years as a brick layer building numerous homes and businesses in the Fort Collins area including Fort Collins High School. He then became a custodian at Colorado State University and also worked in the mail room for the US Forestry Service where he met his current wife, Helen (formerly Schneider).

Jim was an excellent trout fisherman and avid bowler. Jim worked with his wife, Helen as volunteers at the Poudre Valley Hospital for 25 years and he also enjoyed gardening, race walking, and collecting stamps. Jim loved to kid around and could make everyone laugh. He will be missed by all and as Jim often said "see you in the funny papers".

Alexander Waag is survived by his wife of 44 years, Helen S. Waag (Schneider); his sister, Helen Lorraine "Renee" Vermilya and family; his former wife, Norma Jean Dinkelman and their three children and families: Cynthia Jo (Bill) Roush, Stephanie Jean (Michael) Blackmon and Tony Carl (Mark Kellogg) Waag; his stepdaughter, JoAnn (Heinz) Christmann; step daughter-in-law, Joy Schneider and step son-in-law, Harley Bailey; his grandchildren: Joshua Roush, Tori (Marc) Foley, Ceterra (Farale Miles) Taylor, Debbie (Jim) Hunter, Shelley (Paul Stillwell) Sloan, Lori (Paul Specht) Schneider, Rich Schneider, Kristie (Kyle) Alons, Angie (Blair) Greimann and Chris Bailey; his great-grand children: Brandon Foley, Carter Foley, Taylor (Karen) Ehrlich, Tanner Ehrlich, Mitchell (Nicki) Gonder, Kylee Alons, Mckenzie Alons, Caleb Alons, Josiah Alons, Grace Alons, Eve Greimann, Diego Greimann and Mac Greimann; his great- great-grand children: Sloan Ehrlich and Charlie Ehrlich; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Predeceased sons-in-law: George Sloan, Kenneth Schneider and Richard Schneider.

Contributions in Jim's memory can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E Stuart Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (or to another organization of your choice)

Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a visitation to follow from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Stuart St. Graveside Services with Military Honors by the Fort Collins All Veterans Honor Guard and the US Marine Corp will be held Thursday, 2 pm. at Grandview Cemetery.

Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.