ROCHELLE — Wayne Robert Twombly of Rochelle, died Friday, May 26, 2017, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford. He was born Aug. 22, 1946, at DeKalb Public Hospital in DeKalb, to Berniece Marie (Nelson) and Robert John Twombly. Wayne grew up in DeKalb, raised by his mother who later married Frederick Washington Sutton.
He was a graduate of DeKalb High School growing up with the kids of the class of 1965. It was an idyllic time when everyone had a nickname and Saturday nights were spent cruising Lincoln Highway.
He was drafted the fall of 1966 into military service with the United States Army and bravely served our country in Viet Nam through September of 1968 when he was honorably discharged.
After discharge Wayne began working for UPS where he worked for over 30 years serving the Rochelle area. He also attended Northern Illinois University with help from the GI bill.
Wayne never married or had children of his own, but he loved to spoil the children of his friends. He was often there with a gift and a funny story on birthdays and at Christmas. In his free time, he enjoyed visiting the casinos and was an avid card player. Many an afternoon was spent golfing with friends and planning fishing trips to Canada.
He loved cars – especially fast ones. After discharge from army he treated himself to the purchase of his first new car, a Yenko Camaro in Daytona yellow. There began a long string of cars and a motorcycle or two that included several Corvettes, a Harley Sportster, and in later years several Jeeps. Wayne also enjoyed making model airplanes, reading military history and collecting radios, model cars, and memorabilia.
He is survived by his aunt, Maxine Anderson of Osage, Iowa; cousins, Dale (Carol) Anderson of Osage, Iowa, Judy Anderson of Huntley, Loretta Hunt of Farmington, Minn., his father Robert (Barbara) Twombly, DeKalb, half-siblings Deborah Samuelson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Janel Twombly of Decorah, Iowa, and Scott (Valerie) Twombly of Kingston, and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his beloved mother Berniece M. Sutton and step-father Frederick W. Sutton.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb. Burial will follow at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb with full military honors by the Rochelle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3878.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 2, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb.
Memorials can be made to the Wayne R. Twombly Memorial Fund addressed to the Twombly Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.