Frank Isaac (Ike) Wagstaff

Our loving husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and Friend passed away quietly on Monday, December 6, 2021. He passed away after a very short painful battle with pancreatic cancer.  He had just celebrated his 86th birthday on Saturday with family.

He was born December 4, 1935, at home to William I Wagstaff and Hilda Payne in American Fork, UT. His mother traveled here from England. His father has a Pioneer heritage. Frank was the youngest of 18 children in a “yours, mine and ours” family. Frank grew up being called Ike by his family and friends, until he joined the Navy, where he was required to use his first name of Frank. His family still calls him Ike. He married his sweetheart Nola Kay Chadwick on July 7th, 1959, in LaMesa California. They were sealed shortly afterwards in the Salt Lake Temple.  They recently celebrated 62 happy years together.  They were blessed with five children: Nola “LaDell”, Janet, Kenneth Frank, Brian Mark, and Loralee.

Frank served his country proudly during the time of the Korean War. He served on the USS Princeton aircraft Carrier for the US Navy. The skills he learned while in the Navy set his course to be a highly productive Aircraft Overhaul Supervisor, working on military aircraft at Hill Air Force Base, where he retired in 1992. After retiring, he worked hobby jobs for another 10 years at Shopko and Target, waiting for Nola to retire.

Frank enjoyed fishing in Utah with his family, but the highlight of his fishing hobby was in Alaska where he caught a 101-pound halibut and a 5’2” King salmon in the Kenai River.  He loved camping in his camper with his family at big and Little Lyman. He loved to Hunt ducks with his brothers and later his 2 sons.  He believed you should have a hunting dog when you go so, Frank always went with his brother because he had a dog. He also enjoyed deer hunting every fall with his brothers Roy and Glen. As Ken and Brian got old enough, they were able to go with him.  They hunted together for many years.

He enjoys working with his hands. He was the best repairman because he always fixed everything that needed fixing whether an appliance, electrical, carpentry, toys, bikes etc.  They very seldom paid for a repairman. He built his own workbench, finished a couple of different basements in the homes that they lived in. He was able to brick the basement fireplace in their second home. He had to teach himself how to brick first.   Most importantly he enjoyed working in his yard. His lawn was always well manicured and edged. The flower beds for mom were always beautiful as they worked together as a team arranging and weeding them. He loved to raise vegetable gardens with raspberries, tomatoes, squash and assorted other things.

Frank was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He did his church work quietly and efficiently. He took his home teaching “ministering” very serious.  He enjoyed visiting his families and enjoyed learning about each family member he served.  He served as assistant executive secretary, first counselor in the Sunday school presidency. He served many years as cub master and helped and encouraged both Ken and Brian to achieve the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts.

He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Nola. They were able to travel to Nauvoo, Illinois, and Alaska several times. Alaska was almost his second home. He enjoyed seeing Branson Missouri and experienced many of the shows there. Temple trips were exciting with Nola and his Sister Noreen and her husband Paul. They were able to go through the Panama Canal watching the locks as they would fill up and lower with water. They cruised all the way from San Diego to Hawaii seeing four of the islands. While cruising he loved standing on the front of the ship watching the dolphins and whales jumping and swimming.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Roy Cordner, Maisie Cordner Newsome, Glen Wagstaff, Noreen Wagstaff Taylor; daughter Janet Wagstaff and grandson Austin Lewis.

He is survived by his wife, Nola; Sister Ruth Wagstaff Peterson and Brother-in-law Paul Taylor; Children:  LaDell (Kevin) Bereece, Ken (Lacey) Wagstaff, Brian (Kristen) Wagstaff and Lori (Jeff) Lewis; Eleven grandchildren: Timothy Bereece, Tamara Bereece Simpson, Jennifer Bereece Burgi, Jessica Bereece Ducharme, Madisen Wagstaff, Jacob Wagstaff, Miranda Wagstaff, Kaylee Wagstaff, Mattais Fragoso, Devan Lewis, Courtney Lewis Wiliams; Eight great grands: Bailey, Carson, and Tyler Bereece, Cora Simpson, Kayla Burgi, Kaden and Grayson Ducharme, Maverick Williams with 3 more on the way.

Our many thanks go out to Mr. O (Ofiu Isamau) who miraculously came into our lives the last 18 days of his life. Thank you for your compassionate, loving, and attentive care you provided.  You were a stranger and became part of our family. We love you.  Thank you nurse Jenny from Summit Home Health and Hospice for your countless hours of love and care you provided him.

A viewing will be held Sunday evening, December 12th from 6-8 pm at Russon Brothers Mortuary 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, UT (Just West of Cherry Hill).  A viewing will also be held Monday morning, December 13th from 9:45-10:45 am with the funeral following at 11:00 am at the LDS church, 875 East 200 North, Kaysville, UT.  Interment will be at the Kaysville City Cemetery.