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Wayne was born Friday, September 13, 1913 in Lacona, Iowa to Tyler and Maude (Barger) Nyswonger and passed away Monday, November 21, 2016, at the age of 103, at Valley View Village, where he had been a resident since 2008.
He was raised on a farm in Indianola, Iowa, and graduated from Indianola High School. In 1937, he graduated from the Open Bible Institute in Eugene, OR. One of his proudest moments was winning the 4H Grand Champion Baby Beef prize of Warren County with his calf when he was 13 years old.
He was drafted in January 1944 into the US Navy and served as an Electrician's Mate aboard the USS Wasp until January 1946. He was in Tokyo Bay when the 1945 Armistice was signed on Battleship Missouri.
Upon discharge, he worked 11 years as a foreman at Carr and Moehl Lumber Company in Des Moines. In 1957 he became a laborer, driver, then heavy equipment operator at Iowa Power and Light Company, retiring in 1975. As a free-lancer, his next job found him painting 100 houses until 1998. He also worked 12 years for the election board by driving to local libraries to pick up ballot boxes. When he did get to vacation, he liked to fish.
Always busy, he enjoyed working on cars, gardening and improving the house-remodeling the kitchen and bath (with help from friends) and painting his own house. A devout Christian, he was a Sunday School Superintendent, Adult Bible Class teacher for many years and sang in a men's quartet. In later years, he ushered at First Church of the Open Bible and First Assembly of God.
Left to fondly remember him are his daughters Sharon Terpening of New Jersey and Kathy (Bill) Wishman of Clive; granddaughters Quila Hook (Jim) Buhler of Oregon, Danielle Terpening Miller of New York, Darcy Terpening and Delaine Terpening (Steven) Sarraf both of New Jersey and Heidi Wishman (Nick) Adams of Colorado; grandsons Todd (Stepanie) Wishman and Eric (Kara) Wishman of Des Moines; sister Anna Marie Nyswonger Ruble of Indianola; sisters-in-law Jean and Betty Nyswonger of Indianola.
Wayne is also survived by his step-son David (Lisa) Russell of Ankeny; step-daughter Judy Russell (Jim) Johnston of Missouri; step-grandsons Michael (Jennifer) Russell, Brandon Russell, Jim Johnston, Jeremiah (Ashely) Johnston; step granddaughters Jill Russel (Mark) Bjorkland and Barbara Russell (Brian) Burnham; 20 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Shirley Nyswonger Hook, sons-in-law Gordon Hook and Daniel Terpening; four baby great-grandchildren; brothers, Duane, Marvin, Merle and William Nyswonger; sisters, Lois Shipley and Audrey Meeks; his wife, Vera Acheson Nyswonger of 45 years passed in 1985; and his wife Peternella Sneller Russell Nyswonger of 23 years passed in 2008.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 10 a.m. at McLaren's Chapel followed by a funeral service then burial at Resthaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be directed to Valley View Village in Des Moines, Iowa.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
December 2, 2016
Greg & Karen (Nyswonger) Blockhus
Our family sends our thoughts and prayers to you all.
December 2, 2016
a loved one
November 29, 2016
Gail Acheson
Thoughts and prayers of family are with you in this time of sorrow.
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McLarens Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary801 19th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
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McLarens Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary801 19th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
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McLarens Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary801 19th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
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