He was a rock of support to a family of five children, beloved grandfather to eight grandchildren, and loving husband to adored wife Peggy for 51 years before she passed in 2013. And love is a curious thing—It struck again, and Wayne married Anne Fisher of Yuma in 2017.
Wayne was born Sept. 28, 1938, in Milwaukee to parents Norman and Dorothy Wagner (dec.), and was the second of seven fun-loving children: Diana, Don, Jerry, Keith, Linda, and Rickey (Keith and Linda survive). Wayne went to Don Bosco High School and is a proud graduate of University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Wayne started his career as a chemical engineer at Aqua-Chem while also serving honorably in the U.S. Army Reserves. He met his bride-to-be Peggy in high school, and the two married in 1962. After the couple’s early years in Waukesha, Wisc., and Genesee Depot, Wisc., they took root in Mequon, Wisc., for 15 years. In 1988, they resettled in Yuma where Wayne was plant engineer and operations chief for Burns & Roe Services Corporation at the Yuma Desalting Plant, retiring in 2003.
In his free time, Wayne was an avid golfer and member of Yuma Golf & Country Club. Biennial family trips and golfing excursions offered him rounds at courses throughout the country and Scotland. He was also active in the community all his life, volunteering and fundraising for his parish, the Boy Scouts of America, Knights of Columbus, and Yuma Rotary Club.
At the end, his loved ones were by his side, giving the best care they could to Wayne, who had done the same for them. He leaves a legacy of fairness, integrity, and love for family and community.
Wayne is survived by wife Anne; children Brian (Cheryl), David (Debbie), Mary (Greg) Wagner-Tharp, Andy (Jennifer), and Meg (Grant) Rodney; grandchildren Elizabeth (Brian), Anne (Michael), Tyler, JR, Emma, Claire, Quinn, and J.T.; and his sweet terrier Darby.
A funeral mass for Wayne will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m., with visitation starting at 10 a.m., at St. John Neumann Catholic Parish, 11545 E. 40th St. in the Yuma Foothills. A reception will follow at the same location at the Friel Center south of the main church. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. 1st Ave. in Yuma. In lieu of flowers, Wayne and Anne ask that you consider donations to Rotary International
