Wayne W. Loerts

Sibley, IA Wayne W. Loerts, age 84 of Sibley, IA died Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at the Country View Manor in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21st at First Reformed Church of Sibley, with Reverend Bruce Wilterdink officiating. Burial will follow at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 20th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Wayne Loerts was born January 12, 1929 on the family farm south of Sibley, Iowa, the son of Wessel and Tillie (Heronimus) Loerts. He was raised near Sibley and attended Holman #6 School. He continued his education at Ashton High School through the 11th grade. He worked for various farmers in the area before entering the United States Army in January of 1951. He trained at Fort Riley, KS and served for 18 months in Germany. He was honorably discharged in December of 1952 with the rank of Corporal. Wayne returned home where he owned and operated a service station in Ashton, IA. He was united in marriage to Ruth Backer on May 15, 1953 at Trinity Reformed Church in Sibley. After selling the service station he owned and operated a cream and egg route for 4 years. Wayne and Ruth moved to a farm by Ashton and farmed for many years. He most recently worked at Farmers Coop Elevator in Sibley, while continuing to farm. He retired from farming in 2002. Wayne was a member of Trinity Reformed Church in Sibley, active as Sunday School Superintendent, served on the Consistory and as a youth group leader. After the church closed Wayne and Ruth became members at First Reformed Church in Sibley. He was a life time member of the American Legion. He also was active with 4-H and FFA and attended Adult Famers Night School hosted by the Sibley Community Schools. He enjoyed tractor rides, tractor pulls, and collecting toy tractors. Wayne was proud to be a farmer and is remembered for always helping others. His biggest joy in life was his family. On April 3, 2013 Wayne entered Country View Manor in Sibley, IA, where he remained until this past Wednesday, September 18, 2013, when he died at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruth Loerts of Sibley, IA; three sons, Kenneth (wife Wilma) Loerts of Sibley, IA, Doug (wife Teresa) Loerts of Milford, IA and Steven (wife Helen) Loerts of Spencer, IA; a daughter-in-law, Teresa Loerts of Spencer, IA; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Myrna Lamfers of Tucson, AZ and Marilyn (husband, Edward) Markus of Cheyenne, WY; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wessel and Tillie Loerts; a son, David Loerts; and a brother-in-law, Delmer Lamfers.