Robert S. “Stephen” WAGNER , 73, of Loveland, died of cancer Aug. 14, 2005, at the Hospice Care Facility at McKee Medical Center in Loveland.

He was born May 12, 1932, in Tulsa, Okla., to E. Vernice and Henry O. Wagner. He graduated from Longmont High School and attended Denver University before starting his lifelong career in the U.S. military.

He was in the Colorado Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserves, U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Fleet Reserves spanning a time of 29 years. During this time he was a hospital corpsman, lab technician, lab instructor, blood bank technician, head of the lab and medical research facility at Da Nang Naval Hospital in Vietnam. After serving in Vietnam, he was appointed to the then Gov. Ronald Reagan’s commission that started the EMT/ Paramedic program in California and spread throughout the country.

He also wrote and published some seven medical research papers. He retired from the U.S. Navy in October 1976 and returned to settle in Loveland.

He married Doris E. Wallace on March 30, 1957, in Denver. They moved around a lot while in the military.

He enjoyed many hobbies in his later years. He liked studying the Bible, working with young people, church, genealogy, photography, astronomy and spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Doris E. Wagner of Loveland; a son, Robert S. Wagner Jr. of Loveland; a daughter, Rhonda S. Hollnagel and husband Daren of Loveland; daughter-in-law, Terri L. Wagner of Greeley; a brother, Rodney L. Wagner and wife Sharon of Yuma, Ariz.; a sister, Mary E. Christie and husband Ric of Sacramento, Calif.; stepsister, Betty Ferguson and husband Keith of Anchorage, Alaska; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Donald E. Wagner of Loveland.

His body was willed to science to be used for teaching and research in Denver.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate his life 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Cam-pion Seventh-day Adventist Church at Campion Academy, 300 S.W. 42nd St., Loveland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Robert S. Wagner Memorial Fund in care of Doris E. Wagner, 3201 Overlook Lane, Loveland, CO 80537.