Forest "Wayne" Lingg

A Memorial Service for Wayne Lingg will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alma, Nebraska with Fathers Maurice Current and John Birkel serving as Concelebrants.  A private inurnment will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Cawker City, Kansas, at a later date.

Forest Wayne Lingg was born September 21, 1932 at a hospital in Wamego, Pottawatomie County, Kan., to Warren J. and Lula May (Pinick) Lingg of Westmoreland, Kan.  He received his early education in Westmoreland. In 1942 the family moved to Great Bend, Kan., where his father was foreman of the newspaper and printing plant, and Wayne delivered the Wichita (Kan.) Beacon and earned enough money to buy his first bicycle.

In 1945, the family moved to Cawker City, Kan., where his parents leased The Ledger for a short time, then returned to Westmoreland. In 1947 the family returned to Cawker City and purchased the newspaper. Wayne learned the newspaper trade and job printing, and losing half of his right thumb in a press accident. It was in Cawker City, where he earned the nickname, "Chink" which many knew him as for many years.

Wayne was active in high school sports and earned letters in football and basketball, graduating with the class of 1950. In November of 1950 he joined the U.S. Navy and received his boot training in San Diego, Calif., from there he was sent directly to Guam where he served until Nov., 1952, and received his first leave to come home. He was then stationed at Treasure Island, Calif., near San Francisco, before returning to San Diego and stationed aboard the U.S. Sperry.

On May 30, 1953, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Koster, his high school sweetheart, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Cawker City, after a long courtship by mail. She was the daughter of Henry and Susan (Thomas) Koster. They made their home in San Diego until 1954 when Marilyn returned to Cawker City to establish a home for them and await the birth of their first child. Wayne was honorably discharged from the Navy in Aug., 1954, and son, Warren John, II was born on Oct. 2, 1954.

Wayne was employed at The Ledger, serving as a volunteer fireman, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and on the city council.

A second son, Steven, was born Oct. 28, 1955. In October of 1956, they moved to Estes Park, Colo., where Wayne worked for the newspaper. They returned to Cawker City in the spring of 1957. Additions to the family were: son, Tim in 1958, and daughter, Susan in 1962.

In May of 1967 the family moved to Jewell, Kan., where Wayne edited the Jewell County Republican for the Boyd family. In Nov. of 1969 he leased the Downs (Kan.) News. In 1972, Wayne and Marilyn had the opportunity to purchase the Harlan County Journal in Alma, Neb., from the Furse brothers, assuming ownership on July 1. Son, Warren joined them in the business as the fourth generation in the newspaper business, being started by his great-grandmother.

The Journal celebrated 100 years of continuous publishing in 1997. Several different women were employed through the years and a most valued person was Bob Flasnick, writer and photographer. Wayne and Marilyn retired from the business in 1998, selling the Journal to Warren and Melinda Lingg.

Wayne was a member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the VFW.  In retirement, Wayne spent a lot of time fishing at Harlan County Lake from his boat or pontoon; cutting firewood; making various items in his woodworking shop; and spending time with his family.

He became a resident of Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege in Feb., 2018.

Wayne and Marilyn observed their 70th wedding anniversary in May of this year.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Susan; brother John; Marilyn's parents; son, Steve; and many in-laws from Marilyn's family.

Survivors include his wife Marilyn of Alma; sons:  Warren (Melinda); and Tim Lingg of Alma; daughter, Susan (Jeff) Palu of Holdrege; daughter-in-law, Peggy Lingg of Lincoln; grandchildren:  Sarah (Lance) Handley, Lucas (Amanda) Lingg, Brad (Jen) Palu, Justin (Candace) Palu, Derek (Larissa) Palu, and Stephanie (Austin) Sailors; great-grandchildren: Tristan, Cameron, and Brayden Handley; Alivia and Asher Lingg; and Harrison and Grayson Palu; brother-in-law, Hank Koster of Cawker City; sisters-in-law, Rita Lingg of Hutchinson, Kan., Aline Koster of Denver, Colo., Dolores Quenzer of Pittsburg, Kan., and Yvonne Koster of Burlington, Iowa.; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Wayne chose to donate his body to the Anatomical Board of Nebraska.  There will not be a memorial book signing, visitation, or a viewing the evening prior to the service.

A memorial has been established in Wayne's honor, and kindly suggested to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, in lieu of flowers.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.

" We thought of you today, but that is nothing new.  We thought of you yesterday, and will tomorrow too.  We think of you in silence and make no outward show.  For what it meant to lose you, only those who loved you know.  Remembering you is easy, it's the heartache of losing you, that will never go away."