Mr. Herman Wage, age 79, died unexpectedly on May 10, 2023, in Fresno.
Herman grew up in Brugge, Belgium, where he spent most of his childhood with his parents, Jacob and Irene Wage, and siblings Johanna, Hermina, Daniel, and Mirjam. After high school, he completed one year of Belgian military service with NATO troops in Germany, assisting with translation. He then traveled worldwide, working on the maiden voyage of the S.S. Rotterdam, a luxury cruise ship, stopping in places like Japan, India, Egypt, and New York.  Upon returning to Belgium, he attended the Protestant seminary in Brussels and taught religion in the schools.
Always interested in furthering his education, Herman applied for a Methodist Church scholarship and was accepted to study at Fresno State College. Along with other select students from around the world, he then received an additional scholarship from the Kiwanis to form a delegation that traveled across the U.S., visiting Kiwanis clubs in various communities. As an international student, Herman paid his way through school with farm jobs, painting apartments, and working in the language lab at Fresno State. While at Fresno State, he received undergraduate and master's degrees in history, geography, and teaching and administrative credentials.     Herman spent most of his career as an educator at Auberry Elementary School and, later, at Foothill Middle School, teaching various social studies classes or serving school administration as a vice-principal. When running into former students in the community, they would frequently share that Mr. Wage was their favorite teacher or his impact on their lives.
Herman loved athletics and was known for bringing people together through sports in the Central Valley, whether introducing soccer to the foothill schools, sailing, playing in tennis leagues, and pickleball during retirement.  Although primarily affiliated with Protestant places of worship, he greatly appreciated and knew various religions and cultures. He particularly enjoyed taking his middle school students on field trips to mosques, synagogues, and Buddhist temples.
Herman was married 50 years and is survived by his wife Kathy, daughter Rebecca, son David, son-in-law Renzo, daughter-in-law Jeannie, and granddaughter Emilia. He frequently expressed gratitude for the hospitality, kindness, and generosity of families in the Fresno community, including the Brockmeyers and Cedarquists.
On June 2, there will be a graveside service at Washington Colony Cemetery at 10:30 am and a Celebration of Life at 11:30 at the C.P.D.E.S., Portuguese Hall of Fresno, 172 W Jefferson Ave, Fresno, CA 93706.   Herman's friends and family are encouraged to share personal memories of Herman as part of the service. We will remember him for his compassion toward those in need, his comprehensive wealth of knowledge, his appreciation for the diversity of cultures and worldviews, his quirky sense of humor, and his ability to be both charismatic and at peace in solitude.    In place of flowers, please consider charitable donations in his honor, as Herman regularly donated to over a dozen organizations related to animal welfare, veterans, world healthcare, and children's organizations.