Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Wayne Willard Kerber was born May 5, 1926, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to John and Florence (Bell) Kerber. The Lord called him home on March 30, 2016. He was baptized May 30, 1926, and confirmed May of 1940 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fenton, Iowa.
He attended Ringsted High School and graduated in 1944. He lived on a farm near Ringsted until entering the Army in 1945 where he served for 18 months. After returning to Iowa, the love for the Northwest brought him back to the Seattle area in March 1947. He worked two years for Boeing Aircraft before attending Railroad Telegraph School in Spokane.
He was hired by Spokane-Portland and Seattle Railroad in 1950 where he worked until retiring in August 1987. During those years he worked as a telegrapher in the Vancouver, Stevenson, Bingen, and Wishram areas.
During retirement, Wayne enjoyed camping, fishing, traveling and riding his bike. At the age of 84, he learned to dance and enjoyed kicking up his heels at the Senior Center. His favorite dancing shoes were his cowboy boots.
He was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church where he was treasurer for 30 years. He stayed active despite the fact that for the last 13 years he had been on kidney dialysis.
He married Shirley (DeWall) Zumach from Fenton, Iowa in 1972.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters Pamela Meyer, Hood River, Ore., Shelley (Les) Newell, Carson, Debra (David) Peter, LaMirada, Calif., Pamela Hultenius, Vancouver, Lori (Steve) Koch, Underwood; and one brother, Keith, Emmetsburg, Iowa
Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson:
-Bradley (Erica) Peter, Natalie and Carl, LaMirada, Calif., Laura Peter (Shannon) Fisher, Taylor Fisher (Johnny) Lazano, James, Downey, Calif., and Braidy, Cameron, Gavin, Avery, Whittier, Calif., Jason (Nicole) Earls, Connor, Grady, Leilee, Forks, Justin (Kim) Earls, Molly, Hannah, LaCenter, Elisa Koch, Aidan, Ava, Bingen, Stephanie Koch (Paul) Kearney, Sydney, Hagen, Lainey, Gardnerville, Nev., Anna Koch, Stella, Phoenix, Ariz., Michelle Koch, Phoenix, Ariz., Jennifer Meyer, Elias, Paul III, Sadie, Emmetsburg, Iowa, Nicole (Ryan) Gray, Sophia, Konnor, Craig, Alaska.
He dearly loved his big family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and a son-in-law.
To God Be The Glory.
A celebration of Wayne’s life was held Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bingen, with the assistance of Gardner Funeral Home.
He had requested that donations be made to either Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bingen or the Ray Yasui Dialysis Center in Hood River.
To plant a tree in memory of Wayne Kerber as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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