Wayne Karl Fanter

Wayne was born on November 23rd, 1939, at home in the ‘little house’ in Bath Township, Illinois. Wayne was the son of Berna Kathrine Fanter (Kastendick) and Louis John Ernst Fanter. Wayne was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bath, IL on March 29, 1953. His confirmation verse is “Delight they self in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” Psalm 37:4. Wayne married Patsy Ann Craig on March 12th, 1972, at Ramsey Baptist Church, in Ramsey, Illinois. They were married 54 wonderful years. They have been members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL, ever since they were married. He found joy in serving as an aid in the Sunday School program when his own kids were young.

They met each other through friends. Co-workers Ken and Jeannine Duncan were their match makers.

Wayne started his schooling at Matanza School. In 1947 he transferred to Frog Pod School when the family moved from the Dierker Farm (along the Illinois River) to the Carl Keest farm in the Jordan Draining District. After completing 4 years in Balyki High School, he helped his dad farm. Wayne and his brother Glenn started a hog raising business. He lost his left eye in a combining accident and wore a painted glass eye prosthetic for the rest of his life. The shed dust and fumes were causing eye infections and doctors told him to change jobs. Wayne decided if he couldn’t raise hogs, he’d work as a meat cutter. Wayne worked his first couple of years at Morgan’s Super Market in Havana. Then an opportunity came to work for National Food Stores as a union meat cutter. Working for National, Wayne traveled through the area working at several different stores before settling back in Springfield, IL. He had worked at National Food Stores in Hannibal and Columbia, MO, and Litchfield, IL. National Food was purchased by Schnucks.

Overall, Wayne worked for 44 years as a meat cutter before his retirement in 2006.

Wayne loved being with his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved traveling, planned and took three-week long vacations across the US and Canada camping by camper truck and later a van as soon as school was out for the summer. He made sure amusement parks and pools, usually at KOAs were always a part of the trip for his kids.

Wayne also enjoyed collecting coins and stamps and has done extensive genealogical research on he and Patsy’s families. He also volunteered after retirement for many years at the Sangamon Valley Collection room of Lincoln Library. He read microfilm of obituaries of area newspapers in order to write down the names and relationships of families and help the library create indexes to assist others in future research. Wayne has his name on several index books of obituaries as the editor, major contributor. He volunteered at least twice a week from retirement in 2006 through March of 2020. Many years were spent scrolling through microfilm of the Lincoln Courier, starting with issues from 1895. After over a decade he finally got through that paper only to start another.

Wayne was also part of the Gold Dust Investment Club for many years, a small group that pooled their resources to invest and learn together.

Wayne is survived by his two children, daughter Michelle Fanter of Dubuque, IA and son Kevin Fanter of Peoria, IL; two grandchildren, Kymberly and Josephine Wilant. Wayne’s siblings and their spouses include three sisters Jean Lois (+Richard+) Clink of Camby, IN; +Wanda+ (Len) Beck of Springfield, IL; and Marilyn (Don) Blakeley of Kilbourne, IL; a brother, +Glenn+ (Barb) Fanter of Kilbourne, IL. He also has many loved nieces, and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Berna Kathrine Fanter (Kastendick) and Louis John Ernst Fanter, also by his brothers, Donald Fanter (infant), Glenn R. Fanter and a sister, Wanda M. Beck.

Visitation and Funeral Service: Family and Friends are invited to a visitation on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd. Springfield, IL beginning at 9:30 am until the time of a funeral service there at 11:00 am. Pastor Joel Springer will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 am Friday, August 21, 2026, at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Ramsey IL.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may direct memorial contributions to the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bath, IL toward their handicap accessibility parking, Our Savior’s Lutheran School’s Eagles Nest fund, or the HSHS St. John’s Hospital Foundation.

The family would like to sincerely thank the wonderful medical teams at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, especially the ER and Cardiovascular ICU units, and the whole nursing and care team at EverTrue Concordia Village Care Center.

Please visit the “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com

Arrangements are in the care of Bisch Funeral Home West. 217-544-5424