Wayne Stapleton

Glenn Wayne Stapleton, 78 of Ponca, Nebraska passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held August 16th at the Ponca Community Center from 2 until 4 pm. Memorials will be given to the Ponca Booster Club. Interment will be in the Omaha National Cemetery with Military Honors. Mohr Funeral Home has assisted the family with arrangements.

Glenn Wayne was born on August 19, 1946, and released to the Lord’s care on July 23, 2025. A kind, quiet and unassuming gentle man. Wayne grew up on a farm 3 miles west of Ponca, attended country school District 13 and Ponca High School. After graduation he attended Nettleton Business College in Lincoln, Ne. He then attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux City. Glenn Wayne was drafted and entered the service on August 25,1966 and served in Vietnam from February 13,1967 until February 19, 1968. Glenn Wayne served as a Sr Med Aidman near Qui Nhon, Vietnam. He witnessed the carnage and tragedy of young soldiers taken to early in life.

After his military service he worked at a couple of banks in Sioux City before deciding to attend Wayne State College where he graduated with a business degree. We always knew Glenn Wayne as a quiet guy; however, the side you may not have known, he was a cheerleader at Nettleton Business College in Lincoln and one season at Wayne State he was the Wildcat mascot for football. Now all the Ponca people knew him as an avid backer of all the sports teams at Ponca, he didn’t miss many games whether football, boys or girls’ basketball or volleyball as his Life-Time Athletic Pass can attest. As for his name, he was always known as Wayne in the Ponca area, however in the military service or at Wayne State with his fraternity brothers he was known as Glenn. Glenn was named for his dads’ brother who perished in Italy in WWII in 1944 and Wayne for his mom’s eldest brother. Later in life Glenn Wayne returned to Vietnam in peaceful times, upon returning he stated it was a beautiful country, and he held no ill will against the people of Vietnam. Glenn Wayne was able to visit Washington DC on an Honor Flight a few years ago, the whole trip being a highlight of his life.

Glenn Wayne will be remembered by his siblings Ramona (Jerry) Carlton of Lake Havasu, AZ, Donald (Jeannie) of Onalaska WI, Marilyn of Norfolk NE, Bev (Colin) McCue of Sioux City IA, Keith (DeAnne) of Norfolk, NE, Lori of Lincoln, NE, 8 nephews, 2 nieces, 6 great nephews, 8 great nieces, many extended family members and friends.

Glenn Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Violet (Sherman) Stapleton, a sister Dorothy Elaine Richardson and husband Jim, and 2 nieces Katie Stapleton and Cheyenne Stapleton.

Wayne was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church of Ponca, the Jaycees and American Legion Post 117 of Ponca.