Ralph "Wayne" Didlake

Born in Henryetta, Oklahoma, in May of 1942, Wayne was the son of Ralph and Oleta Didlake, who preceded him in death.

Wayne lived a life marked by dedication, craftsmanship, and deep love for his family. He is survived by his wife, Nicki, of 62 years, 6 months, and 6 days. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with love, faith, and laughter.

Wayne proudly served the city of Wichita as a firefighter for 21 years, retiring as a Captain in 1984. Never one to sit still, he went on to remodel homes throughout Wichita—flipping a few along the way—and later worked as a real estate broker. He had a gift for building, fixing, and improving everything he touched.

A man of many interests, Wayne enjoyed RC airplanes, golf, woodworking, camping at Pete’s Puddle, home renovation, Excel spreadsheets, and Photoshop. He loved a challenge and was known for his ability to fix almost anything. His creativity and attention to detail were unmatched.

More than anything, Wayne had the unique power to make people laugh. Whether through a witty comment, a goofy expression, or a perfectly timed joke, he brought joy and lightness wherever he went. His humor was a gift—one that lifted others and stayed with them long after the laughter faded.

In his later years, he found joy in watching golf, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys, and—above all—spending time with his family. Keeping up with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids brought him endless happiness. They loved being with him just as much as he loved being with them.

Over the past several years, Wayne faced health challenges, including issues with eyesight, hearing, breathing, and balance. Despite this, he remained positive and often used humor to lighten the load and focus on others rather than himself. He was amazing—his silly sense of humor kept us all going strong.

Wayne was a remarkable man—kind, resourceful, generous, and endlessly loved. His legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

He was the proud father of Robert (Laura), Teresa (Greg), and Brenda (Rodney); the deeply loving grandfather to ten—Alex, Emily, Brandon (Kristen), Jerrica (Ryan), Brianna (Micah), Dalton (Samantha), Hannah (Joshua), Kara (Garrett), Aaron (Callie), and Cheyenne (Blake); and an endlessly proud great-grandfather to twenty: Titan, Athena, Zion, Judah, Landrie, Breckyn, Banning, Iris Rose, Lolo, Adelaide, Flint, Clementine, Juniper, Silas, Iris, Haddon, Keziah, Phinehas, Nicaea, and Emmitt. Wayne is also survived by his loving sisters, Cheryl Coplen and Donna Urban (Gary), as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

We will never forget you. Rest peacefully. We love you so much.

A Memorial Service for Wayne will be held Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Riverlawn Christian Church, 4243 N Meridian Ave, Wichita, KS 67204.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Wayne’s honor to the Wichita Firefighters' Museum, a cause close to his heart. Contributions can be made at https://kansasfirefightersmuseum.org/donate.