Wayne A. Reese

Wayne A. Reese, age 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 17, 2026, while in hospice care at Aurora Medical Center. He was born on March 10, 1936, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Frank and Mary Mae (Luker) Reese. On August 27, 1960, he married the love of his life, Janice, and together they built a home filled with laughter, faith, and family.

Wayne graduated from high school and proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He went on to work for Giddings & Lewis Machine Tools for 33 years, a career that allowed him to travel across the country. Along the way, he visited countless Civil War historical sites throughout the East and South—combining his love of history with his sense of adventure.

Golf was one of Wayne’s greatest joys. He treasured the time spent on the course with family and friends, where stories were told, bets were made, and memories were created. In retirement, he discovered a new passion as an amateur genealogist, carefully gathering pieces of the family story and preserving them for future generations. He was proud of where he came from and even prouder of the family that came after him.

Wayne was a steady, kind, and hardworking man who showed his love in quiet but meaningful ways—through showing up, lending a hand, and always being there when it mattered most. His family was the center of his world.

He is survived by three sons—Jim, Rich (Tracy), and Bob (Stacey) Reese; grandchildren Kevin (Alisa) Reese, Ashley Harrington, Griffin, Sydney, Kyle, Kristin, and Carsten Reese; and great-grandchildren Beckett and Braylie Reese; Kinsleigh Wilke; Noah, Kali, Kyla Hackett, and Kaylani Kubera. He is also lovingly remembered by Patti Reese (Tony’s wife) and her daughters, Katie and Amanda, who were woven into the heart of our family and shared countless memories with Wayne. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Mae; his brother Harry Reese; his sister Mae (Don) Reinhart; and his son Tony Reese.

A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Far Vu Golf Course, a place that brought him so much happiness. Family and friends are invited to gather, share stories, and remember a man who loved deeply and lived well.