Wayne Young

WAYNE L. YOUNG, 88 of Ogallala, passed away November 23, 2018, at the Ogallala Community Hospital.

Wayne was born April 4, 1930, on the home place at Plainview, Nebraska to Harold and Della (Johnson) Young. He attended Plainview High School.

In April of 1947, Wayne entered the U.S. Navy, where he served in Korea. He was assigned to serve on the USS Boxer, which operated from a base at Yokuska, Japan. He would later be assigned to Task Force 77, which was stationed in the China Sea. Wayne's legs went out on him at Treasure Island, and he subsequently received an honorable discharge.

Following his discharge, Wayne made it to San Diego, where he worked at both Harley Davidson and Stone Crafter Outfit. On March 29, 1952, Wayne married Lorraine M. Hartung at Yuma, Arizona. The couple returned to their hometown of Plainview where Wayne worked at McKenzie Transfer Trucking for $50.00 a week. They would relocate to Kearney, Bertrand, and McCook before finally settling in Ogallala, where Wayne took a job as a police officer. Wayne would eventually serve as Sergeant, Captain, and ultimately acting Chief. Wayne served as Keith County Sheriff from 1983 until his retirement in 1995, and in that span, Wayne lost his loving wife, Lorraine; and he struggled mightily to build a life without her. Wayne had enjoyed spending many of his retirement years wintering in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, where he made many friends, until his health would no longer allow him to travel.

Wayne was an avid bowler and golfer, and he had the trophies to show it. He loved playing cards with family and friends, with some of his go-to games being pitch, huckabuck, and poker, just to name a few. Wayne was also a hunter and fisherman. He and the family spent many hours out on the lake, where he taught the kids to water ski. True to his Young family bloodline, Wayne was competitive; from his many years of playing softball to many a card game, he was typically "dialed-in" when it came time to play.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine; son-in-law, Lonnie Tickle; and a brother, Omar Young.

Left to continue Wayne's legacy are his children, Larry (Kari) Young of Ogallala, Gary (Geri) Young of Gering, and Sherri Tickle of Ogallala; 7 grandchildren, Keith (Jill) Tickle, Chad Young, Justin (Kristi) Young, Courtney Young, Jennie (Neil) Burri, Lane (Tia) Young, Kallie Young (Chris Bear); 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Terry (Sue) Young of Olathe, KS; brother-in-law, John (Peaches) Hartung of Chula Vista, CA; along with many other relatives and friends.

A memorial has been established in Wayne's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com. Services will be streamed live from methodistchurchogallala.com for those unable to attend.

Services will be on Thursday, November 29, 2018, at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Ogallala with Rev. Chuck Rager officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala.