Wayne C. Sass

A memorial service for Wayne C. Sass will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Chaplain Kathy Doiel officiating. A private family inurnment will be held prior to the service at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Wayne Carl Sass, 85 years of age, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 28, 2023, at Rose Lane Homes in Loup City, Nebraska. Wayne was born on April 11, 1938 in Bennington, Nebraska, the youngest of four children of Henry and Bertha (Busekist) Sass. He attended Bennington Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1955. He then pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, graduating in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in business.

On August 30, 1959, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. "Betty" Elmen in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and to this union, three children were born: Roger, Laurie, and Amy. From 1970 to 1987 Wayne and Betty made their home in Fairbury where they raised their children and made many friends.

Wayne and Betty were avid sailors beginning with Wayne building a wooden catamaran sailboat, and that passion flourished for over 40 years. They made many lifelong friends with the countless weekends they spent on their boats. After retirement, the couple moved to Holdrege in 2008, to be near family. In 2022, Wayne suffered a stroke and began to make his home at Rose Lane Homes in Loup City.

Wayne had a passion for art, being self-taught, starting in lead stained glass and moving to mosaic and glass fusion, other interests included drawing, looming, and painting barn quilt boards. All of his children and grandchildren are very fortunate to have pieces of his art on display at their homes. He enjoyed attending the Phelps County Senior Center and the many friendships created there. Wayne volunteered at the Nebraska Prairie Museum and was honored to have many of his art pieces on display there.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Don and Dale Sass; and two brothers-in-law: Bob Elmen and his wife, Rita; and Jim Elmen.

Wayne is survived by his wife of almost 64 years, Betty of Holdrege; his son, Roger Sass and his wife, Susan of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; two daughters: Laurie Hill and her husband, Tim of Holdrege; and Amy Dennis and her husband, Pat of Edmond, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren: Paul, Hillary, Sara, Dillon, Jack, Jeffrey, and Nathan; seven great-grandchildren: Lennon, Hayes, Collins, Sutton, Clara, Brooks, and Audrey; one sister, Elaine Klabunde and her husband, Erwin of Elkhorn, Nebraska; one sister-in-law, Eloise Elmen of Sioux Falls; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

There will not be a visitation, viewing, or memorial book signing. The family is honoring Wayne's wish for cremation.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Wayne's honor, and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Senior Center or the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

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.