On a bright and frigid Friday, the 13th in January of 1939, a baby boy was welcomed into this world by Clyde and Leah (Drake) Kemery on the family farm north of Blockton, Iowa. He joined the family with his older brother, Jerry. These two enjoyed many adventures growing up. Blockton was made home throughout his entire life. Wayne departed this life for his heavenly home on November 24, 2022, surrounded by his wife and family.
Wayne graduated from Blockton High School in 1957. He started work alongside his father at Kemery Welding, repairing numerous equipment for area farmers. On another Friday the 13th, Wayne married Patricia Ellen Longfellow. They would have celebrated 64 years together this coming year. To this union two children were born: Michael Wayne and Debra Dea. These two were his pride and joy and he thought life couldn’t get any better, that is, until he was promoted to being a grandpa followed by becoming a great grandpa.
After Wayne suffered a heart attack in March of 2001, he was forced to switch occupations leading him into becoming a full-time farmer. Wayne loved farming the land and tending to his cattle. In fact, this past fall, he was still active in the family harvest, hauling in grain.
Sunday evenings found Wayne and Pat country line dancing with wonderful friends in Maryville. They were also members of a couple’s card club that was started over 60 years ago with life-long friends. You could find Wayne in the stands or the auditorium cheering on his grandchildren in nearly every single game or performance they were involved in, no matter the distance. He loved and was so proud of each of them, as his conversations indicated. Wayne was the happiest when all his family was around his dining room table, many times for Sunday dinners. In recent years, that may have included a couple little ones crawling under it.
Left to cherish Wayne’s memory are his wife, Pat Kemery; children Mike (Donna) Kemery and Deb (Bill) Lynch; grandchildren Kati (Derek) Edmonds, Zach (Amanda) Lynch, Erica (Mitch) Grose, Taylor (Kyle Wilson) Lynch, and Christopher Kemery; great grandchildren Will, Reagan and Audrey Lynch; Boston and Beckett Grose; Lydia and Wyatt Edmonds. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Karen Kemery; brother-in-law Dick (Maralene) Longfellow; sisters-in-law Diana Pantry and Dixie (Kenny) Larsen; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Leah Kemery; in-laws Ivan and Thelma Longfellow; brother Jerry Kemery; nieces Connie Kemery and Monica Longfellow.
Memorials are to the Blockton Community Building and the Blockton Fire Department.
Private family burial will be held at a later date in Rose Hill Cemetery at Blockton.
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