Wayne Wyss

WATERLOO - Wayne Joseph Wyss, 89, passed away peacefully in his home in Waterloo, Indiana, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Wayne was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. He was kind, quiet, humble, and had a great sense of humor.

Wayne was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Jan. 14, 1936, to Rose Mae Phillips Wyss (deceased) and Joseph John Wyss (deceased). He had two brothers, Paul A. Wyss (deceased), Ray M. Wyss (deceased) and a sister, Marilyn I. Auriti, of Fort Wayne.

Wayne graduated from Huntertown High School in 1954. Wayne was a student athlete who excelled in basketball and was named Most Popular Boy, Most Handsome Boy, and Prom King his senior year! His high school basketball team won the Allen County Tournament in1954, and that team picture still hangs in the Lunch Box Cafe restaurant in Fort Wayne.

After high school, he graduated from Ball State University in 1959, with a BS in Education, followed by an MS in Education from St. Francis College in 1968.

Wayne spent most of his professional life working for DeKalb Central United Schools, first as a Government teacher at Auburn High School for three years and then at DeKalb High School from 1967-1979. He then served as a Guidance Counselor at DeKalb Middle School from 1980-1984, and finished his career as the Head of the Guidance Department at DeKalb High School from 1985-1995. While at DeKalb, he coached Freshmen Boys Basketball and was an assistant coach for the Varsity Boys Basketball team. He also served as Senior Class Sponsor for several years and taught driver's education.

Wayne loved spending time with family and friends, playing bridge, watching sports, especially basketball, eating out, watching old Westerns, and listening to country music.

Wayne married June Ellyn Shanebeck on Oct. 24, 1962. They moved to Auburn in 1967, with their four young daughters, Gueral, Kelly, Jackie and Debbie. They moved to Florida, for a brief five years, but returned to Indiana, in 2022.

He was an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

He loved to play bridge with June and his many friends who shared his passion for playing cards.

Wayne is survived by the love of his life, June Ellyn Wyss. He is also survived by his daughters, Gueral (James) Pokorny, of Auburn, Kelly (William) McIntyre, of Stuart, Florida, Jacqueline (Kirk) Robinett, of Auburn and Deborah (Mohsen) Azimi, of Zionsville, Indiana. Wayne had 11 grandchildren, Rhoda (Wayne) Brock, James Pokorny, Jasmine (Bob) Harmon, Jason (Shantelle) Pokorny, Katherine (Preston) Rachal, William C. (Daralyn) McIntyre Jr., James (Anna) McIntyre, Kara Robinett, Marisa Robinett, Mitra Azimi and Ethan Azimi. He had 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The family is grateful for the care provided by wonderful people from Hospice and the many thoughts and prayers of family and friends along with visits from Pastor Jon Hunter from St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Services will be held at 6 p.m., on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 S. Center, Auburn, Indiana, with visitation four hours prior to the service on Friday from 2-6 p.m., at the funeral home.

Private family burial will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at Covington Memorial Gardens, 8408 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 211 W. 9th St., Auburn, IN 46706, StMarksAuburn.com or Parkview Hospital Foundation (Parkview Hospice) 2200 Randallia Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46897, Donate.parkview.com.