It is with profound sadness that the wife and family of Wayne James Yonning announces the passing of their adored loved one, Retired Master Sgt. Wayne James Yonning following a battle with pneumonia on April 19, 2020, at the age of 69.
Wayne will be lovingly and forever remembered by his wife of 27 years, Jan(et) Jack Yonning of Hopewell, Virginia. Wayne leaves behind his loving daughters Nicolle L. Jack (Darrell Williams), Courtney and M. Jack (Jason Gunnoe); grandchildren Chase Bornstein, Cameron Washington, Cayden Williams, and Serena Williams, all of Hopewell. Wayne is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Kathryn E.Y. Richardson and Dr. Daniel C Richardson of Topeka, and an aunt and uncle, Richard M. and Arletta L. Bennett of Aurora, Colorado. He leaves two sons, Brandon and Adam, in Kansas and a daughter, Holly, in Texas. Wayne had five in-laws that loved him and treated him as a brother: Jinna Long, Kraig Rittenhouse, Keith and Gail Rittenhouse, and Mary Lynn Rittenhouse.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Louis and Marylin R. Yonning. as well as his grandparents, Erwin and Clara Wegner and Lewis and Agnes Yonning.
Wayne graduated from Manhattan, Kansas, High School in 1968 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science and government in 1974 from Kansas State University.
Wayne was a member of the Kansas Army National Guards 169th Support Battalion and given an honorable discharge with the rank of master sergeant in 1990. He also served with the U.S. Armys Troop E, 114th Cavalry and was honorably retired at the rank of master sergeant in 2010. After retirement, Wayne worked as a government contractor in logistics networking, as well as military logistics. He finally retired in 2015 and enjoyed traveling the U.S with Jan.
Wayne belonged to the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell, was a member of the John Randolph Foundation, the Historic Hopewell Foundation, a founding member of the Eisenhower Museum, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Wayne enjoyed NASCAR, hunting, Civil War and World War II history, but most of all his four grandchildren.
Wayne was a warm, wonderful, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend and will be sorely missed. Whenever he entered a room his smile lit it up!
Memorial donations may be made in Wayne's name to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Humane Society, or the NRA.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be scheduled for a later date.