Wayne L Guthrie

Celebration of Life Service for Wayne L. Guthrie will be held on Monday, February 10, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Scott Guthrie officiating.  Interment will be held at 2:30 p.m., at the Alma Cemetery in Alma, Nebraska with military honors provided by the Faye Cady Legion Post #118 of Alma in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors Team.

Wayne LeRoy Guthrie, 88 years of age, of rural Alma, went home to be with his Savior, on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Wayne was born on November 11, 1931, in Frontier County, Nebraska, the tenth of fifteen children born to Omer Kem and Maude Mae (Urling) Guthrie.  He received his education from District #63 Country School, in Frontier County, near Stockville, Nebraska, through the 8 ^th Grade.  Wayne moved to Harlan County with his parents in 1944 and was baptized at the Christian Church in Minden, Nebraska.

Following his education, Wayne was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on January 1, 1952 and was honorably discharged on January 29, 1954, serving during the Korean Conflict.  Wayne received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.  Following his discharge, Wayne returned home and worked for other farmers.  He later worked at the Odessa Hay Mill and was a Star Route Mail Carrier.

On May 25, 1961, Wayne was united in marriage to Janice Jesske in Minden.  The couple were blessed with four children: Tracy, Anita, Jerry, and Stuart. The family made their home on a farm near Ragan, where Wayne engaged in farming for many years and enjoyed the labor of the land.

Wayne was a faithful member of the Ragan Methodist Church in Ragan. He enjoyed participating in the Nebraska and National Hand Cornhusking Competition, winning numerous state and national titles.  Most of all, Wayne loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Albert and Edna Jesske; grandson, Jared Pekarek; six sisters: Alberta Covey and her husband, Albert; Geraldine "Gerry" Richards and her husbands: Millard Covey and Leland Richards; Garnett Covey and her husband, Donald; Alpha Fries and her husband, Wayne; Thelma Soderberg and her husband, Vern; and Myrna Guthrie; four brothers: LaVerne Guthrie and his wife, Barbara; Omer Guthrie and his wife, Wanda; Harold Guthrie; and John "Jack" Guthrie and his wife, Carol; brothers-in-law:  Neal Carlson; Clarence "Bud" Rogers; Leroy Maxwell; and Howard Jesske; sister-in-law, Joyce Lenstrom and her husband, Daryl; and nephew, Paul Lenstrom.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Janice Guthrie of rural Alma; daughter, Anita Pekarek of Kearney, Nebraska; three sons: Tracy Guthrie and his wife, Sharisse of Holdrege; Jerry Guthrie of rural Alma; and Stuart Guthrie and his wife, Tami of rural Ragan; eight grandchildren: Vince Guthrie and his wife, Desiree of Callaway, Nebraska; Shana Nitchie and her husband, Scott of Holdrege; Tyler Guthrie and his wife, Brooke of Arapahoe, Nebraska; Callie Nelson of Kearney and Matt Nelson of Holdrege; Riley Guthrie and his wife, Jenni of Alma, Nebraska; Melissa Guthrie of Kearney; Bailey Hockemeier and her husband, Aaron of Kearney; and Brooke Guthrie of Hays, Kansas;  13 great-grandchildren; two sisters:  Florence Maxwell of Denver, Colorado; and Eleanor Rogers of Holbrook, Nebraska; two brothers: Cecil Guthrie and his wife, Donna of Holdrege; and Dale Guthrie and his wife, Lou Ann of Ragan; sister-in-law: Linda Guthrie of Hastings, Nebraska; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Wayne's honor and kindly suggested to Camp Joy.

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

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.