Wayne A. Meester

Wayne A. Meester, age 76, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown. Pastor Laura Overbo will officiate. Music will be provided by A.J. Sherrill as organist and Robbyn Givens as soloist. The funeral service will be live-streamed and recorded.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Pallbearers will be Wayne's grandchildren: Jacob, Jahna, Evan, Leyla, Joey, Rowan, Lucas, Evelyn, and Charlotte.

Donations in Wayne's honor can be made to Codington County Cares or LATC Building Trades Program for a scholarship that will be created. This is the link to donate in Wayne's honor: https://www.lakeareatech.edu/foundation/

Wayne was born on August 31st, 1948, at his family's home, despite his claim he was born in a barn. He attended school in Willow Lake and participated in track and cross country. Wayne held a long-standing school record in track and was known for his prankster ways with his brother Lyle back in his high school days.

Wayne was blessed to meet the love of his life, Linda, in high school and together married over 54 years. Throughout their marriage, Wayne and Linda lived in Huron, Howard, and Watertown. They were blessed to have 3 somewhat amazing children who somehow created 9 perfect grandchildren.

Wayne attended LATI after graduating high school in Willow Lake and earned a degree in Building Trades. He worked in the building industry, opening his own lumber yard, Cashway Lumber, in 1985. Wayne was a founding member of the Watertown Home Builders Association and was honored as Lumberman of the Year in 2009 by the SD Retail Lumberman's Association. Wayne retired in 2010, proudly handing over the reins to his sons, Jason and Todd.

In his retirement, he enjoyed golfing, pickleball, spending winters in Florida and traveling the world. A highlight was spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching them in their sports and activities. He especially loved sharing his passion for hunting with his grandchildren and enjoyed watching them learn and develop their hunting skills alongside him. Wayne was positive, patient, friendly, and enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a man of few words, but those words were always full of wisdom and love. He had a constant twinkle in his bright blue eyes and often a mischievous expression. Wayne was well known for his sense of humor and love for pranks. Wherever he went, he lit up the room with his zest for life.

Wayne's memory will continue to live on through his wife, Linda Meester; three children Jason (Melissa) Meester (Watertown, SD), Todd (Molly) Meester (Watertown, SD), and Melissa (Dan) Soper (Sioux Falls, SD); nine grandchildren (Jacob, Jahna, Evan, Leyla, Joey, Rowan, Lucas, Evelyn, and Charlotte); siblings JoAnn Deakyne of Minnetonka, Janice Hovde of Watertown, Lyle (Arlene) Meester of Omaha NE, Cindy (Randy) Hoffman, Madison SD, and Sharon (Rick) Symens of Willow Lake SD.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Bertha Meester, his in-laws Gale and Mae Hall, his brother, Rodell, and his sister, Donna.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti