Wayne Weaver

Wayne Weaver was a fun loving, reliable and trustworthy man. His friends and family respected him greatly, both for his loyalty and his unconditional love. He found immense happiness as a devoted father, brother, son and friend, and he made his family his first priority, always putting their needs before his own. This is how Wayne will be remembered, as a man whose heart was undoubtedly as big as Texas. The year was 1961 and John F. Kennedy was our newly inaugurated President, and Sandy Koufax became baseballs legendary strike out king. On June 3, 1961, in LaGrange, Indiana, Wayne Weaver was born to Richard Keith and Sarah (Cox) Weaver, an event that would shape the future generations of his family. Wayne was the third of four children and only boy in the Weaver household. He and his three sisters, Wanda, Wendy and Wynne, undoubtedly filled the house with their share of laughter, sibling spats and great memories. His sisters clearly remembered all the mischief Wayne got into as a kid because of his fibbing. Since he wouldnt come clean, they all got punished, though his sisters were sure to settle up with him later. However, if someone outside their sibling circle tried to pick on Wayne, his sisters were his biggest defenders. And when roles were reversed, any boy who dated his sisters was accountable to him. Wayne and his sister Wendy were especially close and inseparable all their lives. They made many wonderful childhood memories together, one of which included the time they rode their bikes six miles to participate in a bike-a-thon. The race was a 20 mile bike to St. Joseph, which meant they had 15 miles to ride back home again, but with their new bikes, this was a breeze. Cherished memories keep us in touch with the yesterdays we loved so much. Wayne didnt just have a gentle heart for his sisters; he was a great defender of the underdogs of this world too. His compassion and generosity of heart became very obvious one summer when his mother took him and sisters to the camp she worked at as a cook for handicapped children. During this summer, Wayne became especially close to a young boy who had cerebral palsy and could not speak, except by pointing to pictures on his tray. Wayne took him swimming and cleaned and cared for him. His mother felt that summer was truly a crossroad in Waynes life that helped shape his future. When Wayne was young, his father got a job in Bridgman, Michigan, and the family put down roots here. Wayne attended the Baroda Public Schools and graduated from Lakeshore High School. During this time, his parents had divorced and his father moved to Texas, where he worked as a truck driver. Soon after graduating, Wayne move south to live with his Dad and began working in Texas as a truck driver. It wasnt long before Wayne was introduced to Donna through a mutual friend, and they were married. In 1985, the couple decided to move back to Michigan, and a mere nine months later, they became the proud parents of their first child, son Richard Ricky. He was later joined in the Weaver household by siblings, Wayne II and Savannah, who added even more blessings to Waynes life. Wayne was always active with his kids when they were growing up. His sons both took hunting safety classes so they could hunt with him, though even Savannah remembers sitting quietly in the woods with him. When Wayne, his boys and his brother-in-law would go up north for some hunting, they often got side tracked with playing a little army with the boys. The adults would be on one team and the boys on the other, and for two hours they would crawl around the woods, only to realize later they arent spring chickens anymore with all their aches and pains. Aside from hunting, Wayne also loved camping outdoors. When his health began to weaken, he had his family camp right outside his house so he could go back and forth to the campfire, as his strength allowed. Savannah had many special times with her father too. They liked watching TV together and enjoying each others company, perhaps while munching on some of her fathers funky foods he created. One of his favorite treats, though, was pumpkin pie. And Savannah knew what a soft soul her father had especially since he cried every time he heard the song Silent Night. Fatherhood was a special gift and Wayne strove every day to be the best father and provider he could. Above all, he said Im proud of my kids all of them! Unfortunately with much happiness, also comes great sadness and on February 22, 2006, Wayne lost his oldest son, Richard, who died while serving his country in the military. Justly, Wayne was utterly devastated, but he found a way to honor his sons memory. Richard always wanted a black 2005 Mustang, so Wayne bought one and had a license plate made to say PFC RKW. As a huge NASCAR fan, he took the Mustang to the Michigan International Speedway for all of his friends to see and remember his son too. In April of this year, Wayne had an innate feeling that something was wrong with him, but instead of dwelling on it, he took his daughter and her cousin to Disney World in Florida. Wayne called home and told his mother they were having a blast, but he was having a hard time keeping up with the girls. By May, Wayne was in so much pain he finally went to the doctor and after many tests he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. In his time of anguish, Wayne called his best friend and childhood partner in crime - his sister Wendy, and broke the news to her. Wayne then asked Wendy to please tell his daughter and the rest of the family. Although broken hearted, she felt this was a huge act of love and trust on his behalf and she had to do it for him. Wayne loved being surrounded by his children and family. They were the people he shared his life with and the people who he loved dearly. Although Wayne will be deeply missed, his legacy of love and dedication leaves his loved ones with wonderful memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort. Wayne Weaver, age 46, of Muskegon, MI, died on Monday, August 20, 2007. He is survived by his son, Wayne Weaver II of Muskegon; daughter, Savannah Weaver of Muskegon; mother, Sarah Weaver; 3 sisters: Wanda (Randy) Schmidt of Sawyer, MI, Wendy Skorupa (James Barber) of Muskegon and Wynne (Gregory) David of Muskegon; several nieces and nephews: Jeremy & Stacey Skorupa, Jamie Skorupa, Joseph Skorupa, Elizabeth David, Kimberly David, Ina Haertel, Stephanie Haertel, Robert Garza, Jimmy, Jenny and Crystal; special friend, Christopher Starkey & dogs, Harley & RJ. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Keith Weaver, and his son, PFC Richard K. Weaver. Services for Wayne will be held on Wednesday, August 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Church of God United with Pastor Robert Johnson and Pastor Kendall Holder officiating. Interment at Egelston Township Cemetery. Friends and relatives may visit with Waynes family on Tuesday, August 21, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Muskegon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hackley VNS Hospice or Church of God United. Please visit Waynes personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may leave a memory for his family or sign the online guest book.