Wayne L. Landen, 75

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Wayne L. Landen, 75, of Blair, died suddenly Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

A Celebration of Life Service was Monday, April 8, at Living Hope Church in Blair. Interment was in Pioneer Memorial Cemetery near Blair.

Wayne LaVerne Landen was born June 16, 1937, in Rockport, Mo., to Harry and Opal (Lindstrom) Landen.

He grew up in Rockport. As a young boy, he played trombone in the school band and spent many hours shadowing his father in his repair business. He graduated from high school in Rockport in 1955.

He graduated with a BA degree from Tarkio College in 1959 and continued his studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha toward an MBA.

He retired as a corporate executive from Mutual of Omaha in 1987. He worked at the Nebraska College of Business, Automated Business Forms and First National Bank of Omaha before retiring again in 2001.

On April 6, 1991, he married Shirley at the Baptist Church in Omaha. The couple has lived in the Lakeland area near Blair.

Not one to be idle, he filled his time working in his church as a deacon and visiting nursing homes, providing Bible study groups. He volunteered at the Blair Healing Rooms.

He enjoyed boating, fishing and camping and had a love for music and played the guitar in a local band.

He was active in the Boy Scouts and the Jaycees.

Mr. Landen was a caring, devoted and inspiring man who could always see the good in life. He was passionate about his Huskers and his outreach ministry.

He could often be heard asking, "Is my part straight?"

He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Blair; daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Steve Black of Mead and Jill and Mike Birge of Arkansas; stepdaughters and spouse, Gail and Bill Pauley of Prospect, Ky., and Susan Tompkins of Louisville, Ky.; stepson, Dave Tompkins of Roanoke, Va.; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Yvonne (Valdis) Zebauers of Golden, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his son, Brian; daughter, Lynne Schellen; stepdaughter, Cheryl Tompkins; and grandson, Tommy Birge.

Memorials may be directed to Living Hope Church.

Reichmuth Mortuary in Elkhorn was in charge of arrangements.

#2 The Enterprise, Friday, April 5, 2013 Wayne L. Landen, 75

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Wayne L. Landen, 75, of Blair, died Wednesday, April 4, 2013, in Omaha.

A Celebration of Life Service is pending at Living Hope Church in Blair. Arrangements for the visitation are pending at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn.

Wayne LaVerne Landen was born June 16, 1937, in Rockport, Mo.

He graduated with a BA from Tarkio College and continued his studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha toward an MBA.

He retired as a corporate executive from Mutual of Omaha in 1987. He worked for Automated Business Forms for three years. Then he joined First National Bank of Omaha, retiring as an executive in 2001.

Mr. Landen was a deacon at Living Hope Church and led various Bible studies. He volunteered at the Blair Healing Rooms.

Since retiring, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Blair; daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Steve Black and Jill and Mike Birge; step-daughters and spouse, Gail and Bill Pauley and Susan Tompkins; step-son, Dave Tompkins; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Yvonne Zebauers (Valdis).

Memorials may be directed to Living Hope Church.

Note: though the obituaries do not mention his military service, he served in the Army, being honorably discharged February 6, 1963 and there is a military stone. ~~~Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

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