Wayne A. Specht was born November 3, 1937, in Endicott, Nebraska. Wayne was the eldest son and third child of Ralph Specht and Alma (Anderson) Specht. Wayne passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017, at the age of 79. Wayne graduated from Endicott High School where be played basketball and sang in the church choir and in vocal music competitions. He graduated from Midwestern College and did graduate work at the University of Omaha.
When Wayne joined the US Army in December of 1955, he was trained to work with computers, the huge machines that punched the information cards. He spent part of his tour in Germany, working with coding and learning to operate these giant machines. When he returned from his tour, he enrolled at Fairbury Junior College where he met his wife, Elaine. They were married in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Hastings on May 25, 1963. They were blessed with two sons, James Nathan of Hastings and Jonathan Wayne of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Wayne and Elaine’s family include Jonathan’s wife Kara and grandchildren Esther, Amanda, and William, plus three great-grandchildren.
Wayne began his broadcast career at KGMT in Fairbury. He moved to Denison, Iowa, in 1967 where he continued in radio and later became owner of the Denison AM station and he added an FM station. After selling the Iowa stations in 1993, Wayne bought the Hastings AM station and later an additional sports station. His sons worked in radio for Dad throughout their teen years. In 2006 Wayne sold the Hastings stations and retired.
In Denison, Iowa, Wayne was instrumental in starting the community theatre, Midwestern Players, and directed and acted in many local productions. Wayne served as President of the noon Hastings Rotary Club and was also a member of the Board of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. At First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Wayne served as an Elder and Deacon as well as becoming a Stephen Minister.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, sister Naomi McAtee, and brother Ray. His family will miss him and includes his sister Marvene Rogers, brother Loren and sister-in-law March Specht for Fairbury, the children of his siblings, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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Hastings resident, Wayne A. Specht, 79, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.
Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 2, 2017; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings with Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett officiating. Private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Denison Community Theater for college scholarships in the Fine Arts. Book signing will be Friday, September 1, 2017; 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church. There will be no viewing or visitation.
Wayne was born November 3, 1937, in Endicott, Nebraska to Ralph A. & Alma L. (Anderson) Specht. He married Elaine Eiben on May 25, 1963. Wayne owned radio stations and was a broadcaster in Fairbury, Hastings, and Denison, Iowa. As a college theater major, he helped to start and grow a popular community theater in Iowa where he directed and acted in many productions. He took a number of leadership roles in the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Noon Rotary Club, and at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one sister.
SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Elaine Specht – Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouse:
James Specht – Hastings, NE
Jonathan & Kara Specht – Lee’s Summit, MO
Grandchildren: 3
Great-Grandchildren: 3
When Wayne joined the US Army in December of 1955, he was trained to work with computers, the huge machines that punched the information cards. He spent part of his tour in Germany, working with coding and learning to operate these giant machines. When he returned from his tour, he enrolled at Fairbury Junior College where he met his wife, Elaine. They were married in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Hastings on May 25, 1963. They were blessed with two sons, James Nathan of Hastings and Jonathan Wayne of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Wayne and Elaine’s family include Jonathan’s wife Kara and grandchildren Esther, Amanda, and William, plus three great-grandchildren.
Wayne began his broadcast career at KGMT in Fairbury. He moved to Denison, Iowa, in 1967 where he continued in radio and later became owner of the Denison AM station and he added an FM station. After selling the Iowa stations in 1993, Wayne bought the Hastings AM station and later an additional sports station. His sons worked in radio for Dad throughout their teen years. In 2006 Wayne sold the Hastings stations and retired.
In Denison, Iowa, Wayne was instrumental in starting the community theatre, Midwestern Players, and directed and acted in many local productions. Wayne served as President of the noon Hastings Rotary Club and was also a member of the Board of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. At First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Wayne served as an Elder and Deacon as well as becoming a Stephen Minister.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, sister Naomi McAtee, and brother Ray. His family will miss him and includes his sister Marvene Rogers, brother Loren and sister-in-law March Specht for Fairbury, the children of his siblings, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Share this:∼
Hastings resident, Wayne A. Specht, 79, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.
Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 2, 2017; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings with Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett officiating. Private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Denison Community Theater for college scholarships in the Fine Arts. Book signing will be Friday, September 1, 2017; 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church. There will be no viewing or visitation.
Wayne was born November 3, 1937, in Endicott, Nebraska to Ralph A. & Alma L. (Anderson) Specht. He married Elaine Eiben on May 25, 1963. Wayne owned radio stations and was a broadcaster in Fairbury, Hastings, and Denison, Iowa. As a college theater major, he helped to start and grow a popular community theater in Iowa where he directed and acted in many productions. He took a number of leadership roles in the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Noon Rotary Club, and at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one sister.
SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Elaine Specht – Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouse:
James Specht – Hastings, NE
Jonathan & Kara Specht – Lee’s Summit, MO
Grandchildren: 3
Great-Grandchildren: 3
Wayne A. Specht was born November 3, 1937, in Endicott, Nebraska. Wayne was the eldest son and third child of Ralph Specht and Alma (Anderson) Specht. Wayne passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017, at the age of 79. Wayne graduated from Endicott High School where be played basketball and sang in the church choir and in vocal music competitions. He graduated from Midwestern College and did graduate work at the University of Omaha.
When Wayne joined the US Army in December of 1955, he was trained to work with computers, the huge machines that punched the information cards. He spent part of his tour in Germany, working with coding and learning to operate these giant machines. When he returned from his tour, he enrolled at Fairbury Junior College where he met his wife, Elaine. They were married in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Hastings on May 25, 1963. They were blessed with two sons, James Nathan of Hastings and Jonathan Wayne of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Wayne and Elaine’s family include Jonathan’s wife Kara and grandchildren Esther, Amanda, and William, plus three great-grandchildren.
Wayne began his broadcast career at KGMT in Fairbury. He moved to Denison, Iowa, in 1967 where he continued in radio and later became owner of the Denison AM station and he added an FM station. After selling the Iowa stations in 1993, Wayne bought the Hastings AM station and later an additional sports station. His sons worked in radio for Dad throughout their teen years. In 2006 Wayne sold the Hastings stations and retired.
In Denison, Iowa, Wayne was instrumental in starting the community theatre, Midwestern Players, and directed and acted in many local productions. Wayne served as President of the noon Hastings Rotary Club and was also a member of the Board of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. At First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Wayne served as an Elder and Deacon as well as becoming a Stephen Minister.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, sister Naomi McAtee, and brother Ray. His family will miss him and includes his sister Marvene Rogers, brother Loren and sister-in-law March Specht for Fairbury, the children of his siblings, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Share this:∼
Hastings resident, Wayne A. Specht, 79, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.
Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 2, 2017; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings with Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett officiating. Private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Denison Community Theater for college scholarships in the Fine Arts. Book signing will be Friday, September 1, 2017; 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church. There will be no viewing or visitation.
Wayne was born November 3, 1937, in Endicott, Nebraska to Ralph A. & Alma L. (Anderson) Specht. He married Elaine Eiben on May 25, 1963. Wayne owned radio stations and was a broadcaster in Fairbury, Hastings, and Denison, Iowa. As a college theater major, he helped to start and grow a popular community theater in Iowa where he directed and acted in many productions. He took a number of leadership roles in the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Noon Rotary Club, and at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one sister.
SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Elaine Specht – Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouse:
James Specht – Hastings, NE
Jonathan & Kara Specht – Lee’s Summit, MO
Grandchildren: 3
Great-Grandchildren: 3
When Wayne joined the US Army in December of 1955, he was trained to work with computers, the huge machines that punched the information cards. He spent part of his tour in Germany, working with coding and learning to operate these giant machines. When he returned from his tour, he enrolled at Fairbury Junior College where he met his wife, Elaine. They were married in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Hastings on May 25, 1963. They were blessed with two sons, James Nathan of Hastings and Jonathan Wayne of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Wayne and Elaine’s family include Jonathan’s wife Kara and grandchildren Esther, Amanda, and William, plus three great-grandchildren.
Wayne began his broadcast career at KGMT in Fairbury. He moved to Denison, Iowa, in 1967 where he continued in radio and later became owner of the Denison AM station and he added an FM station. After selling the Iowa stations in 1993, Wayne bought the Hastings AM station and later an additional sports station. His sons worked in radio for Dad throughout their teen years. In 2006 Wayne sold the Hastings stations and retired.
In Denison, Iowa, Wayne was instrumental in starting the community theatre, Midwestern Players, and directed and acted in many local productions. Wayne served as President of the noon Hastings Rotary Club and was also a member of the Board of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. At First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Wayne served as an Elder and Deacon as well as becoming a Stephen Minister.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, sister Naomi McAtee, and brother Ray. His family will miss him and includes his sister Marvene Rogers, brother Loren and sister-in-law March Specht for Fairbury, the children of his siblings, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Share this:∼
Hastings resident, Wayne A. Specht, 79, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.
Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 2, 2017; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings with Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett officiating. Private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Denison Community Theater for college scholarships in the Fine Arts. Book signing will be Friday, September 1, 2017; 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church. There will be no viewing or visitation.
Wayne was born November 3, 1937, in Endicott, Nebraska to Ralph A. & Alma L. (Anderson) Specht. He married Elaine Eiben on May 25, 1963. Wayne owned radio stations and was a broadcaster in Fairbury, Hastings, and Denison, Iowa. As a college theater major, he helped to start and grow a popular community theater in Iowa where he directed and acted in many productions. He took a number of leadership roles in the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Noon Rotary Club, and at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one sister.
SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Elaine Specht – Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouse:
James Specht – Hastings, NE
Jonathan & Kara Specht – Lee’s Summit, MO
Grandchildren: 3
Great-Grandchildren: 3
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