I was privileged to work with Wayne for 19 years and be his friend until he passed. Wayne had integrity.  He was hard working and responsible. His Federal career started part-time while he was in high school, I believe, and included being a lab/ greenhouse technician and a supervisory facility manager. He amazed professionals that he’d taught himself facility-related engineering. He was the main reason the Building 580 buildings were built well and functioned well. He was on the four-person team that registered the first PPQ select agent facility and was its first alternate responsible official. (Thereafter, he obsessed about weather threats and facility monitoring gauges. I truly believe he functioned for years on just four hours of sleep per night. We nick-named him 'The Flash' as he'd move so quickly at work.) He loved his Alma mater, Maryland, and going see to the basketball games. He loved caring for his many dogs. He loved tending his lawn and growing beautiful plants. He loved Jennifer with all his heart and more. (He even drove through a sobriety check point late one night in a rush to respond to an emergency at her condo.) He took care of his family members. He was often busy helping out one of them with whatever they needed and, for years, drove to Gettysburg  to help care for his brother-in-law. He also cared for his friends. He helped me move Laurene's love seat to her assisted care facility. He was giving, often the first person to give money for a cause. He'd bring the best birthday cakes and over-flowing food platters to work celebrations. He loved going to the ocean and travelling to Alaska. Wayne was a special person. He will be missed but never forgotten. 

Wayne has been our neighbor for 19 years and would do anything for you. I will miss that smile he always have on his face. It seems like it was only yesterday we was talking with Wayne about the dogs, home improvement activities, and recent current events.  Let’s not forget Wayne was a big University of MD sports fan.  I enjoyed our talks about the University of MD sports and some of the old ACC team rival games. Wayne we will miss you dearly. We love you!!

How do you say goodbye to someone as special as Wayne. Although we hadn’t kept in close contact over the years, we did renew our friendship several years ago, and it was wonderful to pickup that friendship and feel like the years had never slipped by.  Reminiscing from our youth and sharing our current lives.  Jen, he loved you so and was so proud of you.  Never forget the love.  He will always be with you.  Our tears continue for now because the loss is so fresh.  We look forward to seeing Wane again when we are all with our Lord and Savior.  So, for now we say; Wayne, we miss you and love you.

I have known Wayne basically my whole life.  My family became neighbors with Wayne and his family in 1986 when I was just 3 years old.  My sister and his daughter Jennifer are still best friends to this day.  I think of Jennifer as another sister in my life.  

Wayne was one of the most positive, sweet and caring men I’ve ever met. I don’t remember a time when he didn’t have a smile on his face.   Always coming up with a big handshake and “How ya doing?”  My father and Wayne became fast friends both being huge passionate fans of Maryland Terrapin athletics and I enjoyed attending games with them.  

This world lost a truly honest sweet man and my heart goes out to Jennifer and his parents at this time.  I’ll personally never forget Wayne.  

Wayne was our neighbor for 33 years.  He was always there to help you and just be a good friend.  We are missing him already.  No one will ever fill his shoes!  We love you !!

I have known Wayne Claus for almost two decades.  when I first came to Riverdale ,MD . as a containment scientist  he was extremely helpful and friendly to me. I'll always remember that.

He was a great guy both professionally and personally . Everyone liked him.    We went to Mission, Texas together to work on a biocontainment project ; even though he was a thousand miles away from his Bldg. 580 he still was in touch to make sure everything was OK!    That was his baby.

when we used to have live containment training in Riverdale for our field officers  Wayne hosted us to show us the ins and outs of High Containment aspects.

Although I didn't know his daughter , the teacher ?,   he mentioned her often to me. He was very proud of her.

In addition to naming a meeting room in Riverdale in his honor  
 we should put up a memorial plaque in or on building 580 for him.

I used to kid him about his relative Santa Claus !


we will all miss Wayne very much but all have been touched by his presence.

Sincerely,

Michael Kenney {PhD.}

containment scientist
 permit unit 133,
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Riverdale, MD.


{Michael.J.Kenney@usda.gov }



I worked for Wayne for eight years at Building 580. I must say that I never worked for someone who was as dedicated and as professional as Wayne. He taught me how to not only be proficient in whatever you do but to have some type of pride along with it. I'll always remember how he would always take care of his employees during the Christmas holidays and the kind words he would have for my kids when they graduated from college. I will miss him. Well done my friend.   

I am so saddened by the passing of Wayne.  He was my supervisor when I worked at USDA.  Wayne was such a hard working , caring, and professional superior that all of us who worked for him at the USDA facility could appreciate.   He will be surely missed by so many of us.  May you eternal rest in the arms of our loving God.

My dear friend,  how I miss our daily conversations. I've known you for 14 years, but since you retired we had become very close friends who spoke almost everyday and I thank you for that.  We learned together that we were like 2 peas in a pod. We both love gardening and landscaping, our sports memorabilia and cards, and most of all the love we have for our daughters. I have always regarded you as the perfect dad.  The bond you had with Jen and all the quality time the 2 of you got to spend together would make all dads envious.   You were willing to help anyone who needed it while never asking for anything for yourself.  You are a  very special person and the world was a much better place with you in it.   I have learned that the older we get the less close friends we all  have which is probably pretty normal. I considered you a close  friend and I will miss you dearly.  I hope that where ever you are you are teaching people the technique of growing those beautiful tomato plants that you provided to all of us each year. I want you to ease your eternal mind and know that we will all do our part to help Jen get through this, but none of us will ever forget the person and the man you were. The world truly lost a special human being and I am just grateful to have known you and laughed with you  over these years.  Until next time my friend !!!!

I am saddened to hear about Wayne’s passing. I’ve known Wayne since first grade. We grew up in the same neighborhood, sharing the same friends and were in the same classes throughout our school years. In fact in 3rd grade, I chased him around the room trying to kiss him. He was a one of the nicest, caring people I have ever known. 
When my mom passed away and I had to sell all of the house belongings, he gathered a crew together to help me with a yard sale. I couldn’t have done this without him. That’s the kind of man Wayne was. 
I will always remember his smile, his kindness and his friendship. Glad I got to catch up with him 8yrs go. 
My condolences to Jennifer. May his memory be for a blessing. 

OBITUARY

Wayne Paul Claus

4 February, 1956 – 20 August, 2020

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

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