Wayne Austin, age 87, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 3, 2018, in Ashland, Kansas.

He was born February 10, 1931, at Sheridan Lake, Colorado, to George L. and Lida Elva (Smith) Austin.   As a young boy he attended school in Bucklin, Kansas, and graduated from Bucklin High School in 1951.  After his graduation, he joined the United States Army serving for four years.  After his discharge, he began farming, and working for the Co-Op Elevators in Dodge City, Bucklin, and Fowler.  He later began working for USD 225 Fowler and was the Superintendent of Transportation and Grounds, retiring in 1996.

On June 24, 1956, he married Shirley Glotta in Dodge City, Kansas.  Together they raised three daughters Deb, Diane, and Janet.  He is survived by his wife Shirley, daughters Deb Wyrick and husband Greg of Haviland, Kansas, Diane Ehrlich and husband Gary of Dodge City, Kansas, and Janet Huelskamp and husband Tom of rural Fowler; a brother, Kenny Austin and wife Connie of Dodge City; a sister, Marion McCarty and husband Kenneth of Bucklin; a sister-in-law, Pat Austin of Bucklin; two brother-in-laws, Charles and Kathy Glotta and Ernest and Marilyn Glotta; and eight grandchildren, Logan Wyrick, Wyatt and Kristi Ehrlich, Codi Ehrlich, McKaela Huelskamp and fiancé Zach Havenkamp, Jordan Wyrick, Luke Huelskamp, and Jacelyn Huelskamp.

Words that family and friends would use to describe Wayne include beloved, hardworking, witty and gruff.  Although underneath, he was a very sentimental man. His daughters recall fond memories of weekends spent at Cedar Bluff lake where he taught each of them how to waterski, including several of their friends, as well as the art of fishing.  When he wasn't driving a bus to school activities, he spent his time helping his brothers on the family farm in Bucklin, or sitting in the bleachers cheering for his daughters and later on his grandchildren in their various activities.  After retiring from the Fowler school district, he and his wife, Shirley, spent many years working as campground hosts in Colorado, spending the majority of their time at the KOA Cotapaxi campground in Cotapaxi, Colorado.

He is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, George F., Roy, and Keith Austin; and two sisters, Joanne Austin and Audrey Richardson.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2018, at the Fowler Friends Church, Fowler. Cremation has taken place. Inurnement will follow in the Fowler Cemetery, Fowler.

The family would welcome memorials to the Minneola District Hospital or the Fowler Fire Department in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.