Charles Wayne Hoelscher

Estes Park resident, Wayne Hoelscher died at the Estes Park Medical Center on Thursday, September 2aa1, 2017. He was 93 years old. Charles Wayne Hoelscher was born March 1, 1924 on a farm near Brooklyn,, IL. His parents were Roy and Lora (Manlove) Hoelscher. Wayne grew up on his grandparent’s adjoining farm after his grandfather suffered a stroke. He attended school in Brooklyn through the 11th grade and since 12th grade was not offered, he graduated from high school in Augusta, IL. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 at the age of 18, attended Flight Radio School and was stationed at New Castle, DE. During his 3 years, he assisted in delivering fighter bombers to troops around the world, and made 72 flights across the Atlantic Ocean. Wayne married Edna Downs on November 28, 1945 at New Castle Army Air Base in Delaware. After being discharged, the couple lived near Brooklyn, working in a garage owned by his brother and him. In 1949, he went to Western Illinois University in Macomb, received his bachelor’s degree, then on to The University of Illinois in Urbana and received an M.S. in Agronomy. Wayne’s career started as a sales representative and continued as farm advisor and in 1988 he retired from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. Wayne and Edna enjoyed retirement volunteering as campground hosts and traveling in their motor home. Edna died October 27, 1992. On January 4, 1995, Wayne married Joan Buckwalter Miller in Green Valley, AZ. In 2006, the couple moved to Good Samaritan Village in Estes Park. There, they were members of the United Methodist Church. Joan died May 28, 2013. Wayne is survived by his son Chris and his wife Debra and their daughter Jessica of Bloomington, IL and daughter Jean Seymour and her husband Pat and their son Dirk of Couer d’Alene, ID. A memorial service was held Tuesday September 26, 2017 at the United Methodist Church. Consider a donation to the Estes Park Veteran’s Monument Committee in care of Allnutt Funeral Service 1302 Graves Ave. Estes Park, CO 80517