Wayne Stark

Wayne Harold Stark, 82, died May 24, 2025, peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a long struggle with lung cancer.

Memorial services will take place Saturday, June 21, at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Wayne Harold Stark was born March 29, 1943, in Faribault, Minn., to Harold Stark and Lucile (Pike) Stark at Rice County District One Hospital. He was baptized on May 3, 1943, at First English Lutheran Church of Faribault, Minn., and confirmed there May 5, 1957. He was a member of United Methodist Church in Storm Lake until his death. Wayne attended elementary school and graduated from Faribault Senior High in 1961 with his future wife at his side. Their first date was Friday the 13th, 1959. Industrial arts classes were to serve him well later in life.

Wayne was the oldest of four children. His three sisters were Michelle, Barbra and Debra. Wayne enlisted in the United States Army Reserves and left for basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri, the 328th Ordinance Company. After completion there he was united in marriage with Ruth Hamann on Aug. 18, 1961, at United Methodist Church in Nerstrand, Minn. The newlyweds traveled by train to Monterey, Calif., where Wayne reported for Army duty. When he reported in, he was transferred to camp Roberts at San Luis Obispo, Calif. Later Wayne and Ruth went to Minnesota for Christmas. Wayne joined his 328th Ordinance Unit in Louisiana Missile crisis and during the Vietnam War. He was Honorably Discharged after fulfilling his military reserve duty Sept. 10, 1968.

After his service, Wayne worked several places in Minnesota, including Schjeldahl Company in Northfield, supervising the printed circuit area and the manufacturing of large balloons for the U.S. government.

While in Faribault, Minn., son Michael Wayne Stark was born April 24, 1964, followed by Kimberly Stark, born March 18, 1968.

In 1970 Wayne and Ruth moved to Albert Lea, Min.., where Wayne worked at Circuit Labs, and later Fountain Industries, maker of Liquid (coffee, etc.) dispensing machines. Wayne partnered with Jim Hanson of Clark’s Grove, Minn., and began a company called Mach IV installing security systems.

In 1974 Wayne became project engineer at Wilson Foods in Albert Lea. It was the beginning of a long career in the meat processing industry. While there, he oversaw the multi-million dollar addition to a huge hot dog line.

In 1989 Wayne and family moved to Cedar Rapids, and Wayne supervised the closing of the third largest meat processing plant in the world at the time. Ruth had completed her R.N. and worked at Mercy Hospital. In 1990 they moved to Storm Lake, and Wayne commuted to the Cherokee Wilson meat plant. At the same desk he was plant engineer for Wilson Foods, Continental Deli, IBP and Tyson Foods.

After retiring in 2010, he was involved in Kiwanis, American Veterans Iowa Post 66 and the American Legion IA Post 0115. He was past president of the SERPACI car club and golfed with the NW Senior Gold league, enjoying three times a “hole in one.” Wayne hunted and fished with a passion all his life, enjoying 30 straight years in Ontario and trout fishing in Montana. Wayne owned over 50 cars over the years, and said his favorite was the 1964 “409.”

Wayne had a very alert mind and could keep a room full of people enjoying stories for hours. He loved God and family.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Lorraine Stark; brother-in-law Ted (Michelle) Ernste; cousin Sheri Pike Klampe; brother-in-law Paul (Lorraine) Chandler; brother-in-law Harold (Mary) Hamann; sister-in-law Phyllis (Ray) Plut; niece Beverly (James) Anderson; and nephew Steve Plut.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 63 years, Ruth Elaine; son Michael Stark of Storm Lake; daughter Kimberly Stark of Warrensburg, Mo.; 11 grandchildren: Sally (Bruce) Robbins, Stacey Stark, Julie Stark, Waylon Stark, Nathan Stark, Benjamin Stark, Amelia Stark, Rachel Stark-Wroblewski and Daniel Stark-Wroblewski; step-grandson Peyton Robbins; step-granddaughter Sadie (Blake) Stratton; great-grandchildren: Bryson Robbins, Bode Stark, Casey Stark, Lena Stratton and Otto Stratton; many nieces and special nephews that he fished with: Travis Ernste, Chris Ernste, Tim Ernste (who Wayne was deeply grateful for kindness while treatments at the Mayo Clinic).