Wayne Poage

Wayne Poage, 92, of Baxter, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Baxter. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Baxter Congregational Church. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Baxter Congregational Church with Pastor Benjamin Spera officiating. Burial will follow in the Restland Cemetery in Baxter.
Wayne Chapin Poage's story began on September 23rd, 1932. He was the son of Robert, his late mother Marion, and stepmom Jean Gleaves Poage. Growing up on the farm he called home for his whole life, he attended country school and Newton High School ('51) where he found a passion for wrestling. The scrappy fellow continued his letter-winning wrestling career at Iowa State University where he earned a degree in Farm Operations.
After college, Wayne served in the United States Army. Basic training was at Fort Benning Georgia, where he quickly became the letter reader and writer for the boys from the Okefenokee Swamp. By a twist of fate and a very brief and very false AWOL accusation, he flew in luxury on a USO flight to his post-occupied duty station in Germany. Because he was literate with a background in ag, plus a letter of recommendation from a dairy professor from ISU, Wayne automatically qualified for a wide array of army duties: a shots administer to the very friendly military guard dogs, a sports reporter for the local "football" team, and a food inspector at the ice cream plant, otherwise known as an ice cream taste tester to some. During his off time, he traveled by train, car, and boat across Europe.
While in Kaiserslautern, Wayne joined a Lutheran Church. A chocolate cake would show up at the church's Sunday dinner. Wayne loved the cake so much he wanted to meet the baker. Irma Dungfelder entered his story and has been a part of it ever since. Irma and Hans moved to Iowa on September 10th, 1958. Four days later, Wayne and Irma were married at the farm with a reception at the Baxter Sale Barn.
In his 92 years of life, Wayne was the jack of all trades and master of most. Most of his years were spent farming the family farm, and he was a darn good farmer at that. He also loved creating blue ribbon worthy pieces of furniture for loved ones out of mulberry, oak, and walnut trees he milled from the farm. Picture taking, trips to Germany, sampling Irma's baking, farm projects with Hans and John, Friday night pizza with Irma and Stace, and spending time with his
grandkids made up his "retirement" years. He was also a very committed Christian and very active member of the Baxter Congregational Church.
If you saw Wayne out and about, chances are he had a sly, up-to-no-good-grin on his face and a story on his mind. His Reader's Digest jokes, ornery personality, story telling, and kind heart will be missed by many.
Wayne was greeted with open arms, coffee, and a sweet treat (diabetes can kick rocks at the Lord's house) at heaven's gates by many well missed family and friends, and maybe even that SOB Captain Schneider. Most importantly, he will be reunited with his son Hans and his beloved wife Irma.
Those left to continue his story are the morning coffee men at Doug's Feed, the farmers that came after him, his church family at Baxter Congregational (shout out to the women's coffee group) and his family: son John (Sybil) Poage; grandchildren Stacy (Rod) Pearson, Emily (Tim) Murray, Alyssa (Ryan) Lay, Nathan Poage, and Maddy (Zach) Huffaker; great grandchildren
Sam (David), Devin, and Bekah Pearson, Chloe and Jayme Murray, and Myles Hufffaker; nieces and nephews Bob (Sheryl) Poage, Peggy (Joe) Dvorak, Debbie (Tom) Norton, Dave Poage, Tim (Beth) Poage, and Teresa (Harry) Wernecke.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Baxter Congregational Church.