BATTLE CREEK - Wayne D. Werner, 82, died Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at the Norfolk Veterans Home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Battle Creek. The Revs. Richard Snow and Mark Dahn will officiate.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 75 of Battle Creek, VFW Post 1644 of Norfolk and the U.S. Marine Honor Guard. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the church under direction of Home for Funerals.
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Wayne was born on the family farm on Sept. 13, 1926, the son of William and Cora (Hines) Werner. He was raised on the family farm and attended rural school prior to graduating from Battle Creek High School in 1943.
He entered the U.S. Marine Corps on Dec. 17, 1943, after working in the wheat fields in Minnesota. He served in the Pacific theater on board the USS Monticello. Following his honorable discharge on April 19, 1946, Wayne returned to Nebraska. He attended junior college and worked for Roman Packing before starting his career with Chicago & North Western Railroad as a switchman in 1947.
Wayne was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church on July 14, 1947.
On Oct. 12, 1947, Wayne married Arlene Praeuner at St. John's Lutheran Church in Battle Creek. They made their home in Norfolk before moving to Battle Creek in 1960. He retired from the railroad in 1989 and later moved to Norfolk in 2006.
He enjoyed traveling to Europe, Hawaii and especially to see the Huskers play football and his beloved Chicago Cubs play baseball. However, his greatest love was his family and visiting with friends.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years; their children and spouses, Connie and Sanford Wormington of Kennewick, Wash., John Werner of Norfolk, Brenda and Mike Christensen of Yankton, S.D., Christine Lewis of Norfolk, Jan and Lenny Smutny of Albion and Bridget and Andy Gillenwater of Arcola, Ill.; his grandchildren and their spouses, Sean and Angela Carr, Christopher and Libby Campbell, Candace and Rene Lopez, Brandon Werner, Kyle Werner, Wade Werner, Brendan and Jessica Christensen, Michele and Matt Goodweiler, Werner Christensen, Wendell III and Mandy Lewis, Angie and Colin Weber, Santana Smutny, Sasha Gillenwater and Clint Gillenwater; his stepgrandchildren, Lisa and Brian Koons and Scot Wormington; 10 great-grandchildren and four stepgreat- grandchildren; one sister, Jeanie Barry of Battle Creek.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents.