Former Crystal Lake Mayor Robert Wagner dies

Robert Wagner, former mayor of Crystal Lake, held several public service positions in his 64 years of life.

After serving as mayor from 1995 to 1999, he went on to be a Grafton Township trustee, before becoming president of the McHenry County Historical Society in 2019 after just a year on its board of directors. Before that, he was a Crystal Lake Park District commissioner, and served on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Civil Jury Instructions.

Despite these accomplishments, Wagner managed to be "very down to earth," and a good guy, said Kurt Begalka, administrator for the McHenry County Historical Society.

"He's the type of guy who would offer to buy you lunch, buy you a beer," Begalka said. "(He was) very personable. He wasn't the guy to toot his own horn."

Wagner died Friday after suffering a heart attack three days earlier.

"Most people are in shock," Begalka said. "It's a real shame."

Begalka remembered Wagner as a man who was able to be "very committed" and "laser-focused" to his goals, while still keeping a dry sense of humor.

Recently, Wagner showed up to the society's Holiday Open House wearing a Santa suit - without anyone asking him to do so. During a membership drive at the society's Cider Fest, he rang a bell every time someone signed up, Begalka said.

As president of the historical society, Wagner was spearheading its self-evaluation process.

Begalka said Wagner made increasing the society's membership his personal goal.

"He said, 'I'm going to shoot for 900 members,' which is great," Begalka said.

A visitation for Wagner, 64, will be 3 to 8 p.m. today at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, at 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. A second visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until Mass is celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 410 N. First St. in Cary. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the McHenry County Historical Society, 6422 Main St. in Union.

Wagner was a lawyer who, according to his obituary, prided himself on "representing those who needed help the most, while always fighting for the little guy."