Passed on peacefully on May 9, 2021, at the age of 78. Reconciled in heaven with the love of his life, his wife, Mari (nee Karth) as well as his mom and dad, Norman and Marie; and his sister, Annette (Bill) Spaulding. Missed greatly by his daughters, Michele (Mark) Dasek and Nicole (Michael Janovetz) Tatrow, and his grandchildren Mackenzie, Katharine, Landyn, and Oliver. Further survived by his brother Ronald (Joy) Tatrow and his sister, Maryann (Gary) Hanneman. Loved by countless nieces and nephews and friends and neighbors.
Wayne grew up in Milwaukee, and he was still close with many of his childhood friends. He was a superb athlete who played football, baseball, softball, and even bowled. He told stories of being kicked out of Catholic school in third grade for stealing the rosaries and of sneaking into the Milwaukee Zoo in Washington Park to help his friend ride the ostrich. He had a love of life and having fun, and when he retold the stories for his grandkids, he would always preface it with “well, those were different times.”
Family was everything to him. He was very close with his siblings and his parents, as well as his brother and sister-in-laws. He and Mari hosted Father’s Day, July Fourth, and Thanksgiving. When they had a pool, the neighbor kids would sit and wait for him to return home. The picnic table in the backyard was a regular gathering spot for beer and laughter among the parents on 60th Street.
When he and Mari moved to her parents home, the yard was big and the house was small, but it didn’t matter. Everyone looked forward to gatherings at “Uncle Wayne’s.” He drove the kids around in his lawn mower, set up a golf course, filled up inflatable pools, grilled for hours, and welcomed anyone who wanted to come, even if he had never met them before.
Everyone liked Wayne. He had that kind of personality. He survived serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam when many of his friends did not, and he survived a random gunshot years later right down the road from his house. He was extremely loyal, hardworking, a great storyteller, sentimental, a good listener who gave advice and a man who gave a lot of grace and forgiveness. His passing has left a huge hole for all who were lucky to know him, and it will be never be filled. But we have comfort knowing he is reunited with Mari and so many others.
“Let the man go… Catch you on the rebound.”
A special thank you to the nurses at St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee, and all of the staff at Lawlis Hospice for the compassionate, dignified care and kindness you gave to Wayne in his final days.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held on Thursday, June 17, 2021, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM with chapel service to follow at 7:00 PM at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin. His burial with military funeral honors will be held on Friday, June 18, 2021, at 9:00 AM at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 21731 Spring Street, Union Grove, Wisconsin.