October 24, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Wagners give back in a variety of ways

Jim and Jen Wagner like to help people.

They have helped people through the pandemic at their business, Wagner Signs and Graphics. They are currently selling masks and have been open to fulfill online orders and orders for uniforms during the pandemic.

Despite working daily, the Wagners still found time to create a special birthday surprise for a family friend, Brady Johnson.

“Our neighbors and friends from across the street moved back in October, and we have been missing them terribly,” Jen said.

Johnson turned 9 during the stay-at-home order.

When Jen realized Brady’s birthday was coming up and he couldn’t have a party she knew she had to do something.

“I was brainstorming one night in the garage and realized we had leftover fireworks from our family’s annual Fourth of July get together,” she said.

Jen talked to Brady’s parents, Jay and Britney, and made plans to head out to the Johnson’s house on Brady’s birthday.

“We parked next to their field, stayed by our truck, yelled and waved Happy Birthday, and had a little fun,” Jen said.

Britney said the quarantine didn’t stop the family from celebrating Brady’s birthday.

“We just had to be creative,” she said. “We really miss seeing our family and friends, but they all helped us make Brady’s birthday one that he’ll never forget.”

Brady was sent videos, cards, small gifts, banners, signs, and of course, a very special firework celebration.

“It meant so much to us that everyone stepped up to help make this special,” Britney said. “We are blessed to live in a great community that is full of family we love and friends that we cherish. Brady won’t remember the toys that he received throughout the years, but he’ll always remember the experiences. Jim and Jen’s fireworks will be a story that he’ll always be able to share for years to come. It was a perfect birthday and some light for us during this trying time.”

in People
Banner
Related Posts

More than a coach: SJO to honor Duval with field dedication ceremony Friday night

August 19, 2021

August 19, 2021

An educator. A coach. A friend. A husband. A father. A community icon. On Friday night the community and high...

Kids say…

August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019

Every week we ask students at local schools three questions related to farming. This week we spoke to students at...

Senior spotlight… Emily Bigger

July 26, 2019

July 26, 2019

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Emily Bigger. This post is...

10 things you don’t know about me… Taylor Baldner

January 29, 2020

January 29, 2020

This week we asked Taylor Baldner of Taylor-Made Photography to tell us 10 things about herself. Baldner has recently joined...

Senior spotlight… Lindsey Aden

January 2, 2020

January 2, 2020

What are your plans after high school? I hope to attend Stanford University to double major in political science and...

10 things you don’t know about me… Kelly Cooper

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

Ogden Village Trustee Kelly Cooper was elected in 2017. Since then she has worked diligently to make sure Ogden has...

‘No one believed in our kids and our teams more than he did’

April 24, 2024

April 24, 2024

Dan Wright loved life.  He loved his family. He loved his community.  Wright passed away on March 19 in Florida. ...

Love of the game: Two St. Joseph residents umpire at state softball tournament

June 3, 2019

June 3, 2019

Slipping on wet grass actually helped Karl Black’s first experience working as an umpire at the high school softball state...

Get to know Senior SJO Marching Band member Allegra Pearman

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite thing about marching band is the very end of the show when the dust settles and the cheering...

‘They want to show their support of the law enforcement and their family’

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Jim and Jen Wagner support their community, so when a friend came in to their store, Wagner signs and Graphics,...

Wagle reaches out of her comfort zone

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Alayna Wagle loves Halloween. So the Addams Family spooky motif is right up her alley. “I was pretty familiar with...

10 things you don’t know about me… The Gary Olson Family

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

The GARY OLSON FAMILY is being inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight. Gary and Nancy Olson and their...

St. Joseph PTC sponsoring school supply drive

July 9, 2019

July 9, 2019

Katie May doesn’t want any child in St. Joseph to start the school year without the supplies they need. The...

Senior Spotlight… Max Chatterton

January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

What are your post high school plans?After high school, I am planning on enrolling at Parkland College and will be...

SJO student creates program to help the food insecure

December 23, 2021

December 23, 2021

Kirsten Schaefer wants to help feed her neighbors. Schaefer, a junior at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, created the Feeding Your...

Comments
Leave a Reply