Wayne Alan Enderle

1951 - 2023

Wayne Alan Enderle, 71, of Tellico Village, passed away peacefully June 3, 2023.

Wayne was born Oct. 30, 1951, in Fort Hood, Texas, to Horace William Louis Enderle Jr. and Betty Sauter Enderle. He graduated from Holy Redeemer Seminary High School in Lacombe, La., before going on to earn his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at Texas A&M University. At A&M, he was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets and the Ross Volunteers. After his sophomore year, Wayne met Cathy Blakeman, and they married in 1974.

Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He served six years, attaining the rank of captain, and was stationed in Nürnberg, Germany, and Fort Hood. Wayne and Cathy welcomed their son, Jonathan Scott Enderle, who was born in Fort Belvoir, Va. They soon moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, where Wayne was hired as a chemical engineer with BASF and where their daughter, Laura Elizabeth Enderle, was born. His 30-year career with BASF took the family to Louisiana, Germany and finally New Jersey, where he retired as vice president of Environment, Health and Safety Site Services.

After a meticulous search for the perfect retirement spot, Cathy and Wayne landed in Tellico Village, where Wayne spent many blissful years fishing, boating, golfing, woodworking, making dear friends and living his dream on the lake. While on a trip to France in 2017, they received the joyous news their beloved grandson James had been born, and Wayne became PaPa. As the early risers of the family, PaPa and James shared a special bond and spent their many weekend visits together building Lego sets, conducting science experiments, planting herbs and mixing sourdough starter at the kitchen counter - often before anyone else was awake. Wayne treasured every moment with James, and nothing delighted him more than seeing his grandson happy.

Wayne's steady presence and warm, caring nature touched everyone in his orbit - a circle that never stopped growing as he extended a friendly Texas "howdy" to every new person he met. Whether he was sharing his wine, cooking you a meal or telling you a long, proud story about his children's accomplishments, Wayne invited you to join in his jollity for all the things and people that he loved most. He'd want to be remembered this way, and for the love he shared to bring comfort and cheer to all who knew him.

He is survived by his parents, H.W. and Betty Enderle; wife, Cathy Enderle; daughter, Laura Enderle; daughter-in-law, Rachael Nichols; and grandson, James Enderle; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Doug and Terrye Enderle, Jack and Deb Enderle, Chris and Becky Enderle and Phil and Laura Enderle; sisters and brother-in-law, Beth Blakeman and Tim and Nicole Blakeman; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Scott Enderle.

The family will receive friends 10-11 a.m. Aug. 14, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City. Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at 2 p.m. at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery.

Those wishing to honor Wayne's memory may donate in his name to a charity of your choosing, or to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee at secondharvestetn.org.

Click Funeral Home & Cremations-Tellico Village Chapel is serving the family of Wayne Enderle. www.clickfuneralhome.com