Wayne L Schwenke

Wayne L. Schwenke, 68, died peacefully in Great Falls on November 12, 2016.

Wayne was born on November 12, 1948 to Tom and Grace Schwenke in Cut Bank.  He graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1968.  Wayne served in the US Army in New York during the Vietnam War as a helicopter maintenance technician.  He worked at the Big West Refinery in Kevin, Coors Brewery in Shelby, various oil field pumping jobs, and retired from US Meat Import inspection in Sweetgrass.  Wayne was an avid collector of antiques and collectables as well as items he sold at garage sales located in his Quonset and shop by Lake Shel’oole.  Wayne owned several rental properties.  He took great pride in his leather work and taught his art to 4-H children.  Wayne loved woodworking, knife making, going to garage sales, pawn shops, and coin stores.  He was perhaps the best Santa that Shelby has seen.  He took special interest in kids and had a great connection with them.  Wayne enjoyed being a grandfather more than anything and always made time for his grandkids.  The worst heartbreak of his life was when his daughter, Vicki, died at 16 years old of Cystic Fibrosis.  The family is comforted knowing that he is reunited with her.

Survivors include wife, Pat Schwenke of Great Falls; daughter, Deanna (Carl) Suta of Conrad; grandchildren, Dakota Suta, Willy Suta, and Starla Suta all of Conrad; mother, Grace Schwenke of Cut Bank; siblings, Tom (Marlena) Schwenke of Shelby, Diana (Carl) Lynch of Billings, Elaine (Scott) Roberson of Cut Bank, Dan Schwenke of Shelby, Marianne  Schwenke of Billings, Russell Schwenke of Cut Bank, and David Schwenke of Cut Bank; honorary granddaughter, Courtney White and her son, Brant White, affectionately known as “Monkey” by Wayne; numerous nieces and nephews and loving dogs, Winchester and Remington.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Vicki; father, Tom; father-in-law, Gene Tinsley; and brother, Allen.

All are welcome to attend funeral services and a celebration of Wayne’s life on Friday, November 18, at 11:00 AM at Whitted Funeral Chapel Shelby. Burial with military honors will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery next to his daughter, Vicki.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial can be made in Wayne’s name to his favorite charity, Montana Hope Project.

The family would like to thank the staff at Missouri River Manor for the great care and kindness they showed to Wayne.