Loren E. WagenerApril 8, 1924 - October 22, 2007Loren E. Wagener, 83, of Albany, Passes away Monday.Loren Emmett, son of William and Edna (Hart) Wagener, was born April 8, 1924 in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada. As a young child, his family moved to Faribault, Minnesota, where they bought a farm, raising crops and dairy. Loren was baptized and confirmed at First English Lutheran Church in Faribault. After attending school and working for other local farmers, he entered the Army and served in World War II in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He was sent to Camp Adair in Adair, Oregon to recuperate from an injury. While stationed there, he met Betty Ellen Halsey from Albany. He was united in marriage to Betty on September 5, 1945. After completing his duty in the armed services, he moved back to Albany to start his life with Betty. He began a career by opening up a Shell Gas Station in downtown Albany in 1951. He owned the station until moving to Queen Avenue in 1962, where he stated AA Towing, a business he owned and operated for more than 40 years. Loren's greatest passions were his family, his vast circle of friends and his beloved occupation. He loved to hear the ring of the wrecker phone!Loren was a member of the Albany Elks, Albany Eagles, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also an avid race fan and attended 13 consecutive Indy 500 races in Indianapolis. He was a friend to most people he met and always enjoyed sharing a good laugh and a subtle (or not so subtle) joke!He is survived by his wife Betty, of Albany; sons and spouses Bill and Jeanie of Vancouver, Washington, Tom and Evie of Wilsonville, Oregon, and Steve and Diane of Albany; grandchildren Sarah, Loren and Jeremy Wagener of Portland, Christy and husband Kent Phillips of Green Acres, Washington, Ryan Wagener of Portland, and Kalin Wagener of Vancouver, Washington; great-grandchildren Brayden, Elizabeth and Danielle Phillips of Green Acres, Washington; sister Marjorie (Wagener) and husband Paul Norgaard of Elk Grove, California; and sisters-in-law Anita Wagener of Faribault, MN, Nora Wagener of Faribault, MN, and Loretta Wagener of St. Cloud, MN.He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Robert on December 21, 1992, Harvey on July 27, 1999 and Harold on June 8, 2006.Viewing will be from 2-7 PM Thursday at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at noon Friday at Eastside Christian Church. Memorials may be directed to the Albany Visiting Angels of Albany Evergreen Hospice. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).