Wayne Buettner

Wayne Buettner, age 85, passed away on Saturday December 13, 2025. Wayne was born in Gresham on February 25, 1940, the oldest son of Clifford and Selma (Hildebrandt) Buettner. He attended Gresham Grade and High School and graduated in 1959. He married his high school sweetheart Sandra Brunner on April 25, 1960. For 65 years it was a marriage filled with love, joy and happiness. He was employed by Midwest Breeders/21st Century Genetics in the Antigo area for 38 years. He truly enjoyed the time spent with his farmer customers and made lifelong memories and friends along the way. He was also employed by Outagamie Highway Department for 7 years until his retirement in 2005.

Wayne was a person who was patient and kind, he loved to whistle and to reminisce. He was an avid fisherman, walleye at Pelican Lake and Canada, Musky in Lac Du Flambeau and Boulder Junction, Red Fish and Snook in Florida, Pan Fish in Chetek and whatever would bite off the dock at his home on the Wolf River. He enjoyed traveling throughout United States and short trips just "sizing up the country".

He was a former member of St. Francis Solanus Church in Gresham and recent member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano.

He was a loving father of two sons, Michael (deceased 2015) and David (Nina) of Breckenridge, Colorado; two beautiful granddaughters, Samantha (Ben) Bishop of Denton, Texas and Ren Bittner of Golden, Colorado; great-grandsons, Elijah Bishop and Esias Bishop; and step-great-grandson, Evan Bishop. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Michael; his brothers, Robert, Kurt and infant brother, Gary; and in-laws, Rolly and Barbara Brunner. He is survived by his wife Sandra; sister, Valerie (Dan) Willard; other family members; and the "Rusty Zipper Group".

A visitation will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday December 20, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church followed by a memorial mass at 11:00 am. Private burial will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

If anyone could ask Wayne how he would like to be remembered he would say "I couldn't have wished for a better life".