Walter Wayne McCallister
1942 - 2024
Walter Wayne McCallister, 81, passed away on April 24, 2024, in Kearney, Neb.
He was born on September 9, 1942, to Walter Roscoe and Mildred (Snell) McCallister in Norton.
Wayne was raised on a farm in Decatur County and graduated from Norcatur High School in 1960. After high school, Wayne attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, graduating with a Bachelor’s in History and a teaching certificate in the Social Science field. Wayne also received teaching licenses and certificates in carpentry instruction, technical education carpentry, and GED certificate vocational training.
In 1967, Wayne was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a Supply sergeant in Germany and was honorably discharged in 1970.
Wayne and Norma Kimble were married on August 9, 1964, and divorced in 2016. They had two sons, Robert and Michael, from this union.
Wayne worked as a teacher in central Kansas and then took over the family farm in 1976 until 1989. During that time, Wayne also owned and operated the Norcatur Service Station. Wayne would later work at the Norton Correctional Facility in the vocational building. Wayne was the wood shop instructor and a GED instructor before retiring in 2011.
Wayne was an avid reader, loved westerns and history, and enjoyed listening to Bluegrass festivals. He was a Norcatur Cemetery board member for 40-plus years and an American Legion member.
He is survived by his two sons, Robert (Dodie) McCallister of Wamego and Mike McCallister of Plainville; two grandsons, Scott (Taylor) Nading of Chapman and Matthew (Britteny) McCallister of Maryville, Tenn., along with seven great-grandchildren: Owen and Cashton Nading, Boone, Ellie and JoAnna McCallister; and numerous other family and friends.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe and Mildred; brother, James Samuel; grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
A Memorial Graveside Service will be held at the Norcatur Cemetery on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Norcatur Cemetery, in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749. Condolences can be left at www.plumergobber.com.
