Wayne I. Findley, 96, of Stuart passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the Madison County Hospital in Winterset. Funeral service will be held at 2 P.M. on Friday, September 27th at the Dexter Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial with military honors will be at the Dexter Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dexter Fire & Rescue Association. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Fearless leader, entrepreneur, and legendary conversationalist Wayne Ivan Findley died at the Madison County Hospital in Winterset on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the age of 96.
Wayne was born on April 28, 1928 to Wendell and Sophia Moser Findley in rural Dallas County. The youngest of five children, Wayne was doted upon by his older sisters who taught him to read and write before he started school. He recounted that this led to a rude awakening in upper elementary when he had to start paying attention in class. Growing up on the farm, Wayne learned the importance of working hard and that time goes faster when you are having fun.
A modern-day Renaissance Man, Wayne farmed, was an auctioneer, flew planes, developed a rural milk and mail route, fished commercially, started a grain elevator, and bought and sold just about anything.
Wayne met the love of his life, Irene, while roller skating in 1947. He liked to say that he turned on the charm and confidence, captivating her and effortlessly leaving “some college boy” she had been talking to behind. Three months later, Wayne joined the U.S. Army, and the couple began exchanging letters daily. Nearly three years later, Wayne convinced Irene to set aside her rule about not marrying a farmer. They tied the knot in Atlantic, Iowa, on February 14, 1950, marking the beginning of a beautiful journey together.
The Findleys began farming in rural ‘Panther Store.’ After one year, Wayne was called back to the Army and they moved to Camp Atterberry in Indiana where they lived for two years before moving back to Dexter, Iowa to continue farming in 1953.
“There is no time like the present to live the life you want” was the guiding belief of the Findley family when they were featured in The Des Moines Register in 1961. Inspired by this mantra, the couple made the bold decision to leave their farm life behind, embarking on an adventure with their four young sons. Loaded into a pickup truck with a trailer and a station wagon in tow, they set off for Alaska, arriving in Soldotna that March to begin a new chapter filled with possibility.
Wayne dove into everything headfirst and “wide open.” While Irene quickly found work as a legal secretary in Alaska, Wayne launched an auction business, developed a milk and mail route, and began rebuilding and reselling crashed airplanes. Over his lifetime, he owned more than 20 aircraft and piloted at least seven trips between Iowa and Alaska. His favorite was a 1961 Piper Comanche, prized for its retractable gear and speed.
In 1966, Wayne and Irene recognized that their four young boys needed constructive activities to steer clear of negative influences, so they invested in a commercial fishing business. The Findley family embraced the learning experience, embarking on many adventures as they navigated the world of fishing together. Wayne’s eternal optimism and hard-charging attitude got him into a few scrapes, including a 23-day trip on his first boat, the Daphne S, that included transmission failure, broken-out windows, bailing buckets of water out of the bunkroom, running out of drinking water, and having to dive under the boat to replace a bolt.
In 1977, Wayne traded his commercial fishing boots for a new adventure: Grainco Inc., which he managed until his retirement in 1990. Alongside his business ventures, Wayne loved investing in hobbies, always striving for excellence before moving on to his next pursuit. In the 1990s, he sold over 70 vintage John Deere tractors at auction, having decided he needed to clear space for a new pastime.
Wayne and Irene spent their winters in Arizona until 2020, where Wayne continued to hone his golf game and explore new hobbies. He was famous for his after-dinner walks, trying to beat his previous day’s record only to stop and chat with anyone he came across. You would always know when grandkids were visiting: you would see Wayne walking and a gaggle of kids trying to keep up. An avid golfer, their son Brent couldn’t consistently beat Wayne until he turned 95, and then he was still scoring in mid to low 40s.
Wayne remained active and independent until his final days. He loved driving around in his new pickup truck, gardening, and spending mornings with “the boys” (his sons) making breakfast and solving the world’s problems. Wayne was a decades-long member of the First Presbyterian Church and the John Deere Two-Cylinder Club.
Irene preceded Wayne in death in early 2023 after 73 years of marriage. They were truly a perfect match: Irene respected Wayne’s vision and tenacity while never hesitating to share her opinions. As he would dream up adventures, Irene would work out the logistics and make it look easy.
Wayne was a devoted husband, father, and celebrated grandfather and great-grandfather. He brought joy and a little mischief to his time with the grandkids, allowing them to chauffeur him in the golf cart long before they could see over the steering wheel, drive his new vehicles with barely a learner's permit, and play music so loud on his new stereo system that the neighbors called to complain (even though the volume setting was his idea). Wayne was always there with wise advice and was forever bragging about every one of his grandkids. He loved spending time with his great-grandchildren and would play alongside them, even at 94, climbing on things and standing on tiptoes to see a caterpillar.
Wayne was also preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Sophia Findley, brothers Keith (while serving his country in World War II), and Donald; sisters Rose ‘Arlene’ Douglas, and Esther Alexander.
Left to remember, laugh, and celebrate his legacy gratefully include sons Doug (Cynthia), Keith (Susan), Brent (Teri), and Kevin (Jane); and grandchildren: Brenna (Bob) Bird, Sara Findley, Troy (Nicole) Findley, Brooke Findley (Juan Jimenez), Rachel (Andy) Naberhaus, Holly Appenzeller, Kyle (Cassie) Findley, Ryan (Mayumi) Findley, Dara Findley and Kaila Findley (Ismael Leyva); and great-grandchildren Parker, Kevie, Emmett, Renate, Kooper, Finn, Hazel, Brighton, Becket, Jack, Hallie, Hunter, Wyatt, Lana, Amelia and Kelsey.
To send flowers in memory of Wayne Findley, visit the Tribute Store.
27
Sep
823 State Street
Dexter, IA 50070
27
Sep
823 State Street
Dexter, IA 50070
Dexter
Dexter, IA 50250
Johnson Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Stuart Chapel • 123 Northeast Secon Street, Stuart, IA 50250 • Phone: (515) 523-1200
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