He was born June 30, 1925 to Alfred and Muriel Linke in Sioux City, Iowa. Wayne’s mother passed away when he was four years old and he was sent to South Dakota to live with an aunt and uncle. The day after he graduated from high school he enlisted in the Navy. After training, he served as Quarter Master on the USS Hancock aircraft carrier with most of his time in the South Pacific. He said one of his proudest moments was when he was at the helm of the ship as they went into Tokyo Bay the day after the treaty was signed. After he was discharged from the Navy, he moved to Iowa where his father and stepmother were living. He enrolled in the University of Iowa. In 1947, he married the love of his life, JoAnn Bell. He worked for Fisher Controls for 25 years and took early retirement and he and his wife moved to DeFuniak Springs. He worked for the DeFuniak Herald for 15 years as a reporter.
He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many callings. He and his wife served as missionaries in the West Indies and Kentucky. He was a devoted Iowa Hawkeye sports fan. He loved to sing and was a member of a barbershop quartet in Iowa. Fishing and pheasant hunting were among his favorites.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, of Madrid, Iowa; daughter, Patrice Linke of Ankeny, Iowa; son, Daniel Linke, of Provo, Utah; sisters, Judy Greiman of Davenport, Iowa and Anita Eyestone of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; 4 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughters, Jayne Ann and Susan Linke; and brother, C. Eugne Linke.
Family services will be held in Davenport, IA on August 3, 2020 at Runge Mortuary and internment in Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, he asked for memorial contributions to be given to cancer research because he lost his mother and daughter, Jayne to cancer. Condolences may be sent to JoAnn Linke, 613 West North Street, Apartment 11, Madrid, IA 50156.
