Mr Wayne D Mathers

Wayne Donald Mathers, 92, recently of Char Mac Assisted Living in Lawton, Iowa, and previously of Correctionville and Kingsley, Iowa, died of natural causes on December 21 following a short stay at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.Wayne was born in Kingsley to Ella M. (Jaacks) Mathers and Ralph V. Mathers on August 24, 1925. He grew up in rural Correctionville, where his family farmed, and graduated from Correctionville High School in 1942. In 1943, he joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served as a machinist mate on a PBY seaplane in the Pacific Theater until he was honorably discharged at the end of World War II.Wayne married Norma L. Fitch in San Diego in 1945 and they raised six daughters and five sons, living for short periods in Kingsley, Sioux Center and Meriden, Iowa, but eventually settling in Correctionville. Wayne worked as a mechanic and farmer, then later for several years as a heavy equipment operator for Sioux City Engineering. He then spent a few years operating equipment for his sons' business, Mathers Construction, finally retiring at the age of 73.He was active for years in local chapters of the VFW and Legion.Wayne and Norma divorced after 38 years, and except for his final four months, he spent his last 33 years living independently in Kingsley and doing exactly as he pleased.Wayne was large, loud and unforgettable. He was athletic well into his 60s and as he aged, managed to look 20 years younger than he was. He loved cards, board games, crossword puzzles, TV sports, fishing trips to Canada and Minnesota and lively conversation, particularly with his siblings and their families, as well as his own kids and their families. He especially liked being around children, always asking them about their individual interests and activities and mildly frustrating them to see how they'd react. Wayne enjoyed home-cooked meals and family gatherings, and was generous with his time and resources, especially when he sensed that a friend or relative was in a bind. He had a quick wit, an endless capacity to learn, an expansive memory, a tendency toward disruption and a devastating ability to turn a phrase.Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jim and Bob Mathers; two sisters, Helen (George) Bolton and Evelyn (Jack) Woodall; a son, Steve Mathers; a grandson, Nicklas Mathers; a great-grandson, Blaise Aman; and four brothers-in-law.Wayne is survived by his daughters, Sandra (Tom) Volkert, Susan (Robert) Mohr, Nancy Mathers (Jim Morgan), Kristin Mathers (Randy Hansen); sons, David (Patsy) Mathers, Bruce (Dyane) Mathers and Mark (Carla) Mathers all of Correctionville; daughters, Loretta Hansen and Kim Mathers, and son Brian (Jose Huerta) all of Sioux City; daughter-in-law, Gwen Mathers of Buffalo, Wis.; 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Norma Pinkerton, Janice Pfaffle and Marge Laddusaw and brother-in-law Neal Pinkerton, all of Kingsley; and sister-in-law Bonnie Mathers of Sioux City.