Wayne Wilbur Yale, 94,  Grainfield, KS died  April 21, 2018, at the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.

He was born April 18, 1924, at the home of his parents Luther M and Phyllis G (Bickerton) Yale southwest of Grainfield. He attended and graduated from East Big Creek School. This one-room country school was about a mile from his home.  His father needed his help on the farm after his older brothers left so he was only able to attend Grainfield High School one semester.

While farming with his father he met the new school teacher who was teaching at the same country school he attended when he was younger.  Her name was Arleen Priefert.

He entered the U.S. Army in August 1944 and took basic training at Camp Fannin, Tyler, TX.  He served on a 12-man rifle squad in Mindanao, Philippines and the Japanese islands of Shikoku and Honshu during World War II.  Wayne was honorably discharged August 1946.

He returned to the farm and married Arleen Priefert on June 1, 1947, at the Methodist Church in WaKeeney, KS.

They were devoted to one another for almost 68 years before Arleen's passing. They lived on the farm and planted many crops of wheat and milo and feed for their cattle. Wayne considered each seed that sprouted and each newborn calf a miracle and thoroughly enjoyed and loved his life's work. To this union were born three daughters, Lucille, Doris, and Dorothy.

Wayne was a member of the Grainfield United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, American Legion, and VFW.

Survivors include daughters Lucille Williams and husband Kenneth of Hays, KS and Dorothy Mollenkamp and husband Kirby of Arnold, KS;  four grandchildren, Julie (Brian) Fischer, Clinton Williams(Amy), Douglas (Jennifer) Burgardt, and Austin (Lindsey) Burgardt; five great-grandchildren, Nathan and Natalie Fischer, Jacob and Kaleb Burgardt, and Jayci Burgardt; and three step-grandchildren, LaTrisha (Chad) Flax, Stacy (Ben) Hudson, and Kelsey Jo (Eric) Brown; and families, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Arleen; daughter Doris; four brothers, Harold (Tessie), Ray (Elva), Vernon (Hazel) Yale; and infant Albert; two sisters, Margaret (Cleo) Lonon and Ethel (Harold) Hockersmith.

Condolences may be left on this page by guestbook.  Entries are screened daily before appearing, due to spam.

Please take time to view the tribute video honoring Wayne's life by clicking here.