South Bend fire captain retires after more than 30 years of service

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) — Joe Wagner, a 31-year veteran of the department, has retired.

“It makes me proud. I’m so proud that my dad was such a hero and accomplished so much,” said Nicole Hagen, Joe Wagner’s daughter.

Wagner was sworn into the department on January 9, 1991, and spent the first six years of his career assigned to the 2′s, Central, and 9′s.

In 1997, Wagner was promoted to operator driver and worked his way up to become an instructor in the department’s training office.

“[Wagner] Always had a positive attitude. I think even when things, where you could probably have a bad attitude, but he always seemed, sort of, to care,’ said Gerard Ellis, the deputy chief of Station 8.

In 2012, Wagner was promoted to captain, and Station 8 firefighters say he has been an asset to the service, always ready to share his vast knowledge of the fire service.

“This job, you know, you’re behind the scenes a lot, but it’s quite rewarding. It’s a brotherhood, brotherhood, whatever you want, but we, uh, bond pretty well. We’re together 24 hours a day, so you get to know people a lot more than you would in a regular job,” Captain Wagner said.

“I’ve always known my dad, okay he’s a firefighter, you know, so I don’t know. I’m curious to see what he does. Now he’s probably going to be a full-time grandfather,” Hagen said.

Hagen was born the same year her father was sworn in and said she grew up going to the fire station regularly.

“It’s bittersweet. I grew up like at the fire station with him. So I have a lot of memories,” Hagen said.

Hagen told us his dad is ready to retire and the family is looking forward to spending more time together.

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