Wayne Leroy Stewart

Wayne Leroy Stewart

Wayne Leroy Stewart, 92, went home to his Heavenly Father on November 3, 2023 from Ascension Via Christi Village in Hays, Kansas.  He had been a resident since mid-August when the progression of his Parkinson’s Disease necessitated his need to move from Homestead Assisted Living in Hays to long-term care. He had lived at Homestead with his wife for two years, where she still resides.

Wayne was born March 18, 1931 in Abilene, Kansas, the son of Leroy James and Amy Book (Moyer) Stewart. He graduated from Longford High School in 1949, where he met and dated his future wife, Marguerite Steenbock. They married on September 2, 1951 and shared over seventy-two years together. Four children were born from their union: Brenda, Susan, Brian, and Sharon.

Wayne worked many jobs as a young man, but his career of close to forty years was with the Boogaarts Super Market chain. He started as an employee of the Clay Center store, and then became manager of stores in Minneapolis, Phillipsburg, and finally Hays. He loved being a manager and developed friendships with many employees and customers over the years.

In his younger years he enjoyed boating and fishing, and completed many home improvement projects for his family and others. Family was always a priority to him, and he loved all the family dogs as well. He has been a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1964 when the family moved to Hays, serving in many ways over the years.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, both older brothers, and their wives, George and Christina Stewart, and Orland and Dorothy Stewart.

He is survived by his wife Marguerite, daughter Brenda Hinton, Hays; daughter Sue Riley, Wichita; son Brian Stewart and wife Alicia, Leawood; and daughter Sharon Bunting and husband Rob, Wichita.

His nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren include:  Blythe Brown, husband Mike, and children Emersyn and Ellis, Victoria; Breanne Nelson, daughter Shiloh, Merriam, and partner Mike Hutton, Overland Park; Jennifer Hartman and husband Jeremy Hutchinson, Tahlequah, OK; Courtney Waller, husband Andy, and children Cash and Ava, Wichita; Hannah Marchand, husband Curtis IV, and sons Curtis V and Vincent, Overland Park; Sydney Stewart, Leawood; Katelyn Miller, husband Jordan, and daughter Mia, KC, MO; Andrew Bunting, wife Jessica, and son Camden, KC, MO; and Alex Bunting, Wichita.

Wayne’s celebration of life service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday November 18, 2023 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Craig Hauschild officiating.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 10:00 am until service time on Saturday at the church. Cremation has taken place and burial will be at a later date.  Memorials in Wayne’s memory may be made to Hays First United Methodist Church or HaysMed Hospice.  Condolences and memories of Wayne may be left for his family at www.haysmemorial.com.

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