Wayne Heathers Obituary

Wayne Earl Heathers was born October 19, 1934 in a farms house in Harlan County, Nebraska and passed away peacefully June 16, 2025 at the Wauneta Care Center, Wauneta, Nebraska at the age of 90.
With both of his older brothers off to WWII, Wayne grew up early helping his parents in their wheat fields and independent oil and tire shop. Graduating high school as a Huntley Bearcat in 1952, Wayne turned down a basketball scholarship at Kearney State thinking he would never need a teaching certificate. Playing town baseball and traveling around with his brothers he did carpenter jobs, until draft numbers were being called upon again and he volunteered to serve in the US Army from Nov 1956 through Nov 1958. After the military he took more of a career path working for the Soil conservation Service in Trenton, NE. While there, Wayne met his wife, Loretta (Baumfalk), of 60 years, and two sons, Keith and Gene, joined their union. They moved to Curtis where he raised his family, and took a teaching position in Ag Land & Water and later was Department Head at UNSTA from 1966-72. In 1972 he became the manager of the Middle Republican NRD until retirement in 1999.
Wayne was a man of Faith, Family and Community. He had a no-nonsense approach and a dry sense of humor that set the foundation for a very accomplished public speaker. He was a member of the First Congregational Church and enjoyed participating in Bible studies at the Care Center, served on the school board, was a Rotarian, a 5O-year Legion member, volunteered as an usher for the Easter Pageant and assisted teaching Hunter's Safety classes as well as put in countless hours helping with baseball practice. He could be seen on a golf course every now and then, loved to shoot trap and skeet, bird hunt, fish at the local lakes while listening to a Royals game, and followed the Huskers in the fall. He was full of encouragement and a cancer survivor of 32 years.
Wayne was an extremely devoted husband and father full of integrity & character. He led by example and always had time for his family whether it was taking them fishing, playing catch in the yard or helping with homework. His grandkids were his pride and joy. He often attended their events and was usually wearing a Chase County Longhorn or McCook Bison cap to show off his support. He was also blessed with 2 great-grandkids and cherished their visits.
Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta, parents Ira and Cora, brothers Marshall and Gerald and their wives, Naomi and Della, and his brother Glen, who died at age 3 of polio.
Survivors include his sons, Keith (Joan) of McCook, and Gene (Tracy) of Champion. Grandchildren Schyler (Makala) Heathers of Imperial, Chantal (Andrew) Cecava of Lincoln, Shaylee Heathers (Jim) of Roca, NE and Trae Heathers of McCook; Great-grandchildren Greyson and Gavin Cecava & Brother-In-Law Arnold Baumfalk of St. Helena, OR.
Services will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Methodist Church in Curtis, and inurnment will be in Fort McPherson Cemetery, in Maxwell, NE, with his wife, Loretta.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be used for the Wauneta Library, Wauneta EMS & the Wauneta Care & Therapy Center. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wayne E. Heathers, please visit our floral store.