Dr. Claus Wagner-Bartak passed away peacefully on Friday November 10, 2017 at the age of 80. Devoted husband of Marlene (née Reich) of 48 wonderful years. Proud father of Natalie (husband Raul Casal), Nicolaus (wife Vicky Mukhi), and Nadine (husband Victor Fischer). Cherished Opa to his ten grandchildren Cristian (15), Mattias (13), Lucas (9), Katarina (8), Ava (6), Karolina (4), Elisabeth (4), Victoria (4), Ariana (1), and Nicolas (1).
Claus was a loving and generous father and husband who always put his family first. His charismatic presence and personality were felt by all.
Claus was born on September 9, 1937 in Munich, Germany to Friedrich and Johanna Wagner. While attending Ludwig-Maximilian University, he met Marlene and they married on August 23, 1969. In 1974, he moved with Marlene and then two-year-old daughter Natalie to Canada to work in the aerospace field. His son Nicolaus was born in 1976 and daughter Nadine was born in 1983.
Besides his family, his passions included art, music, science, history, cooking, writing, and travelling. He loved to visit his homeland and took great pleasure in the wonderful wine, food, and culture of the Old World. He appreciated greatly having the opportunity in recent years to spend quality time with Marlene, his children and their families, on camping trips to Ontario’s interior and trips throughout Germany, Austria, and surrounding countries.
In his professional life, Claus was a highly accomplished multidisciplinary engineer, scientist and business executive who led multinational aerospace projects from sounding rockets to space shuttle systems. He was chief scientist in the development of the CanadArm, an advanced robotic system for the NASA Space Shuttle and Space Station missions. Later, he developed information and measurement technology systems, founded biotechnological ventures, and acted as a scientific consultant on various business endeavours.
Claus was the recipient of the NASA Public Service Medal, the NASA Astronaut Award, the International Joseph Engelberger Award (Robotics) and the Engineering Medal of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario.
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our beloved Claus. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
Friends will be received at the Ward Funeral Home, 4671 Hwy. 7 (west of Pine Valley Dr.), Woodbridge, 905-851-9100, on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret Mary Church, 8500 Islington Ave., Woodbridge on Tuesday November 14, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Queen of Heaven cemetery.
Please visit our Book of Memories at www.wardfuneralhome.com.