Wayne Russell, son of Herbert and Gladys (Petersen) Rudnick, was born January 20, 1934, in Gray, Iowa. Wayne attended Gray school through the 6th grade. He then moved with his mother and brother Don to Onawa, where he graduated from high school in 1952. He then drove truck and worked on road construction.
In August of 1952, Wayne was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Arkansas, Georgia, and then Germany for a year before being honorably discharged in August of 1958. Wayne returned to Gray and worked for his grandfather driving truck and doing custom corn shelling for more than 17 years.
On August 9, 1963, Wayne was united in marriage with Suzette Johnson at the Methodist church in Audubon. Two children, Jeffrey Wayne and Kimberley Suzette, were born to this union. After shelling corn, Wayne went to work for the Manning Ag Center for twenty years. He then drove a semi-truck for Gary and Julie Danner at Dedham and helped Jeff Albertsen with fall harvest.
Wayne was a huge NASCAR fan and followed Dale Earnhardt. He enjoyed attended local races in Harlan, Denison, Corning and Boone. Wayne was a past member of the Gray Fire Department and Gray Commercial Club.
On Monday, November 18, 2019, Wayne died at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Iowa. He was 85 years, 9 months and 20 days of age.
Survivors include: his wife Suzette Rudnick of Manning; a daughter Kimberley (Lance) Conley of Dover, DE; a son Jeff Rudnick of Manning; two grandchildren: Alysha and Kayla Conley; a sister Wanda (Don) Mathisen of Crescent; a brother-in-law Tom Johnson of Ida Grove; a sister-in-law Denise Johnson of Onawa; and by many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Don Rudnick; a brother-in-law Jim Johnson.
Funeral Service
Monday, November 25, 2019 ~ 2:00 PM
Ohde Funeral Home, Manning, Iowa
Officiating
Lori Shannon
Recorded Music
“In The Garden” “Trust and Obey”
Honorary Casket Bearers
Russell Spies Virgil Schmidt Bill Reetz
Jeff Albertsen Larry Jo Hinners Bill Cramer
Ron & Lois Frahm Gary & Julie Danner
Fred Wonder Jed Bengard Gene Simpson
Military Honors
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517
American Legion Post 22
United States Army Honor Guard
Interment At A Later Date
Arlington Heights Cemetery, Audubon, Iowa
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