Funeral Services for Wayne Carlson will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, Nebraska with Pastor David Carlson officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege, Nebraska with Military Honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.
Wayne’s funeral service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622).
Wayne Robert Carlson, 90 years of age, of rural Holdrege, passed away on Thursday April 15, 2021 in his home, with family by his side. Wayne was born May 31, 1930 at the Crandall Nursing Home in Holdrege, the first of five children born to Vincent and Marie (Linden) Carlson.
Wayne was educated in the Loomis Public Schools, where he advanced directly from 3rd to 5th grade, won the spelling bee, acted in school productions, and graduated with the class of 1947. Passionate about sports, Wayne enjoyed basketball and football while in high school and loved manning the “hot corner” for local baseball teams, as well as earning a position on the UNL baseball team. After receiving a Regent’s Scholarship and completing initial coursework at the University of Nebraska, he was inducted into the United States Army in August of 1951. Wayne served in the Army and Army Reserves until August 1959, when he was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal.
In May of 1951, Wayne and Bette Biesecker eloped and were united in marriage at the courthouse in Norton, Kansas. After military service and upon returning to Phelps County, the young couple became the 3rd generation to live on and farm the Swanson homestead, of Wayne’s maternal family. Wayne was active in the operation and improvement of the family farm until his retirement at age 87. As a young boy, Wayne attended his first funeral in the same home where he died, after having lived 67 of his years on the land homesteaded by his great-grandparents.
To their family, Wayne and Bette Carlson welcomed two children: David and Nancy. Wayne’s heart was dedicated to his family and to his Savior Jesus Christ. Wayne served as a baseball and softball coach, attended any and all events of his children and family members, taught adult Sunday School, donated gallons of blood to the American Red Cross, interviewed dozens of veterans for a living history library at the Nebraska Prairie Museum, was active in the Gideon’s International, (a member for nearly 60 years and including terms as state president) served on the Christian Homes Board, and was heavy involved with the Loomis Alumni. Additionally, he was a faithful giver of his financial resources to his church and many missionaries and evangelistic endeavors committed to the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Wayne was a member of Loomis Evangelical Free Church and the founder of the Chapel at Christian Homes. The Chapel at Christian Homes was built in large part due to Wayne’s commitment to the spiritual needs of residents. The stained glass windows in that Chapel were the result of his vision and fund raising. In 14 years of volunteering to conduct Sunday morning Chapel services, Wayne missed six services, all attributable to family travel and gatherings.
Besides his parents and his wife, Bette; Wayne was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Leroy “Tooter” and Doris Biesecker; his sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Pete Wagner; a cousin, Larry Linden; and great-nephew, Noah Jensen.
He leaves to celebrate his life: his two children: Pastor David (Deborah) Carlson of Lebanon, Oregon; and Nancy Carlson of Holdrege; five grandchildren: John David Carlson of Lebanon, Oregon; Daniel Wayne Carlson of Tualatin, Oregon; and Anna Mae, Elisabeth Esther, and Joel Vincent Carlson, all of Lebanon, Oregon; his cherished siblings: Warner (Janice) Carlson of Holdrege; John (Valene) Carlson of Lincoln; Joanne Carlson “my precious little sister” of Wellington, Colorado; brother-in-law, Dr. Gary Biesecker (Vivian) of High Point, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Cheryl (Kent) May of Hays Center, Nebraska; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other cherished relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege. The family will be present for the visitation.
It was Wayne’s desire that NO flowers be given but that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given in his honor to Gideon’s International or to the family for distribution to Wayne’s selected charities. “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.