Just One Night
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Support “Just One Night” for Suicide Prevention
Your donation will help equip our schools and communities to prevent suicide.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among school-age youth. However, suicide is preventable. Youth thinking about suicide often give warning signs. Parents, teachers, classmates and friends need to know these warning signs of suicide and how to take action when they see students at risk. Because youth spend a substantial part of their days in school with peers and school staff, schools have an opportunity, and perhaps responsibility, to prioritize mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Bill and Nancy Wagner are the grieving parents of Jonas Wagner, a 17-year-old junior at Eden Prairie High School who died by suicide. As long-time Eden Prairie residents, they’re well known, respected and loved in our community. Just as they’ve given so much to others, our community now stands beside them in efforts to increase mental health awareness and prevent suicide.
Many of us also knew Jonas, their son who was known for making others laugh, trying new things, loving music and getting straight As in school. To honor Jonas’ life, we’re committed to help the Wagner family form alliances between organizations to bring mental health and suicide prevention education, programs and other resources to schools.
Part of that plan may include building a scholarship fund in Jonas’ name for students who are contributing to the mental health and wellness of others at school. Just as they haven't established a scholarship, the Wagner family is just starting to take the onerous steps of incorporating and creating a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity.
ABOUT JONAS
Jonas Michael Wagner died by suicide just days after his 17th birthday.
During the days before that, Jonas was cheered on by fans at his volleyball matches. He showed off waterskiing and wakeboarding moves with friends on Lotus Lake. He snuggled with his mom on their saggy couch and laughed at exactly the same time during their favorite Modern Family reruns. He made people laugh with his spot-on (and some not even recognizable) impressions as he quoted his favorite movie lines.
He was also writing goodbye notes to friends and family.
How can it be? Jonas was active in soccer, hockey and more recently, volleyball. He loved playing tenor and alto sax in Eden Prairie High School jazz and marching bands. He was born to be in water – a natural at swimming, boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding and staying on the tube no matter how hard Dad tried to dump him. He had a goofy sense of humor and was affectionate with family and friends.
He was intelligent, responsible, playful, confident, creative and willing to try new things. A stubborn know-it-all too – you know, just a normal teen. He loved his job sharpening skates, listening to classic rock music he couldn’t believe his parents were cool enough to know, petting each and every dog on the planet, Star Wars Legos (the ones Mom didn’t step on, at least), snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, watching action shows with the volume up too high, and relentlessly teasing his mother.
Most of all, Jonas was loved. Deeply. Unconditionally. Intentionally. Demonstrably. Every single minute, every single day. He was surrounded by a supportive, engaged extended family that spent so much time working and playing together. He had caring friends, neighbors, teachers, instructors and coaches.
So how can it be that this guy – this beloved guy with a promising, bright future – saw suicide as his only way to escape the pain inside? Why were his nights so dark in so many ways? His parents knew for a few months that Jonas was struggling, and he fought every step they took to guide him on a path toward healing.
But as daunting as they knew the journey might be, they didn’t think it would end this way.
They really, really didn’t.
This was Jonas – their dear child who won’t be graduating with his pals in 2023, enjoying his first sips of freedom in college, celebrating that first big paycheck, walking down the aisle to meet his bride or proudly placing his newborn baby with gorgeous brown eyes into his parents’ arms.
Support “Just One Night” for Suicide Prevention
Your donation will help equip our schools and communities to prevent suicide.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among school-age youth. However, suicide is preventable. Youth thinking about suicide often give warning signs. Parents, teachers, classmates and friends need to know these warning signs of suicide and how to take action when they see students at risk. Because youth spend a substantial part of their days in school with peers and school staff, schools have an opportunity, and perhaps responsibility, to prioritize mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Bill and Nancy Wagner are the grieving parents of Jonas Wagner, a 17-year-old junior at Eden Prairie High School who died by suicide. As long-time Eden Prairie residents, they’re well known, respected and loved in our community. Just as they’ve given so much to others, our community now stands beside them in efforts to increase mental health awareness and prevent suicide.
Many of us also knew Jonas, their son who was known for making others laugh, trying new things, loving music and getting straight As in school. To honor Jonas’ life, we’re committed to help the Wagner family form alliances between organizations to bring mental health and suicide prevention education, programs and other resources to schools.
Part of that plan may include building a scholarship fund in Jonas’ name for students who are contributing to the mental health and wellness of others at school. Just as they haven't established a scholarship, the Wagner family is just starting to take the onerous steps of incorporating and creating a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity.
ABOUT JONAS
Jonas Michael Wagner died by suicide just days after his 17th birthday.
During the days before that, Jonas was cheered on by fans at his volleyball matches. He showed off waterskiing and wakeboarding moves with friends on Lotus Lake. He snuggled with his mom on their saggy couch and laughed at exactly the same time during their favorite Modern Family reruns. He made people laugh with his spot-on (and some not even recognizable) impressions as he quoted his favorite movie lines.
He was also writing goodbye notes to friends and family.
How can it be? Jonas was active in soccer, hockey and more recently, volleyball. He loved playing tenor and alto sax in Eden Prairie High School jazz and marching bands. He was born to be in water – a natural at swimming, boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding and staying on the tube no matter how hard Dad tried to dump him. He had a goofy sense of humor and was affectionate with family and friends.
He was intelligent, responsible, playful, confident, creative and willing to try new things. A stubborn know-it-all too – you know, just a normal teen. He loved his job sharpening skates, listening to classic rock music he couldn’t believe his parents were cool enough to know, petting each and every dog on the planet, Star Wars Legos (the ones Mom didn’t step on, at least), snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, watching action shows with the volume up too high, and relentlessly teasing his mother.
Most of all, Jonas was loved. Deeply. Unconditionally. Intentionally. Demonstrably. Every single minute, every single day. He was surrounded by a supportive, engaged extended family that spent so much time working and playing together. He had caring friends, neighbors, teachers, instructors and coaches.
So how can it be that this guy – this beloved guy with a promising, bright future – saw suicide as his only way to escape the pain inside? Why were his nights so dark in so many ways? His parents knew for a few months that Jonas was struggling, and he fought every step they took to guide him on a path toward healing.
But as daunting as they knew the journey might be, they didn’t think it would end this way.
They really, really didn’t.
This was Jonas – their dear child who won’t be graduating with his pals in 2023, enjoying his first sips of freedom in college, celebrating that first big paycheck, walking down the aisle to meet his bride or proudly placing his newborn baby with gorgeous brown eyes into his parents’ arms.
Support “Just One Night” for Suicide Prevention
Organiser and beneficiary
Suicide Prevention Awareness
Organiser
Eden Prairie, MN
Nancy Wagner
Beneficiary