The Wagner Family - A Family Committed to the Homeless

Here is a picture of the Wagner family in the 1930's - a poor family of 9 children that made a big mark in Watsonville. In the picture: the back row left to right is Eugene, Leo, George, Ursula, Madeline, and Kathleen (aka Sr. Marie Veronica). The front row is Jack, John Baptist Wagner (their father), Patrick, Luisa Brockamp Wagner (their mother), and Dolores. This humble family grew the food they ate, worked hard and managed to send their children to private Catholic school so that they would all become well educated and successful people. It was Sr. Marie Veronica who, 26 years ago, had the vision of starting a shelter to house homeless women and children. Her brother George, an employee of Granite Construction, was a major contributor to the purchase of the Shelter and set an example with his co-worker Dick Solari in helping the homeless in Watsonville. Their commitment went on to inspire Granite Construction employees in their support through the annual Mother's Day Run. Both these men and their families have continued the personal legacy of support, as have all the Wagner clan to this day. George Wagner passed away in early 2009.