Wayne E. Laufenberg

Wayne E. Laufenberg, of Eau Claire and most recently Waterford, left this earth on December 8th, 2024 with his wife, Patricia, holding his hand. He was a devout Catholic and had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary. It is fitting that he left us on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Wayne studied at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and earned a Master's Degree in Political Science/Public Administration. His love of politics resulted in him working for the Governor of Kentucky in the sixties and the Governor of Iowa in the seventies. In his later years he taught political science in many UW centers.
Wayne and Patricia married in 1960 and lived in Kentucky, Iowa, and Minnesota. They came back to their home state of Wisconsin in 1974 and lived in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire.
God and family were Wayne's priorities. He was always engaging in many ministries at St. James the Greater in Eau Claire. He believed in the sanctity of life and was involved with the Wisconsin Chapter of Right to Life, serving as the chair, for a number of years.
Wayne and Patricia spent retirement years traveling to many countries. They traveled four times to Jerusalem and one summer, Wayne spent months studying the bible in the Holy Land.
Family was Wayne's heart. He organized family reunions and gatherings with his three older sisters. He was the parent who never missed a sporting event, recital, or school function. This support continued with his five grandchildren. He encouraged education and all three of his children hold advanced degrees. What is truly remarkable about his parenting is that he lost his mother to breast cancer, at age seven, and grew up in various relatives' households as his own father could not parent alone. He leaves behind his wife, Patricia, of sixty-three years, his son Wade Laufenberg (Lisa), daughter Wynne Laufenberg (John Mullins), and son Wright Laufenberg (Karen Novak). His grandchildren; Shaelyn, Laura, Dominic, Isabella, and Ryann, and many nephews and nieces that he loved dearly.
Wayne will be buried in his hometown of Highland, WI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 12:00 noon at Ss, Anthony & Phillip Church, 726 Main Street. Visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10:00 am until 11:45 am. Burial with Military Honors will occur following the conclusion of Mass at the St. Philip's Catholic Cemetery with Fr. Tafadzwa Kushamba officiating. The McGuire-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home, Highland, is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.houckfuneralhomes.com.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and aides at the VA Hospital, Milw. (7C unit) for their extraordinary care and empathy. We'd also like to thank the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care in Burlington for their kindness and outright love for Wayne.
Contributions to the Catholic Combined Collections, Milwaukee Archdiocese would greatly please Wayne.
McGuire-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home Highland 608-929-4815 www.houckfuenralhomes.com