Wayne Purtzer

Wayne Purtzer, 88, of rural Houston, passed into his eternal rest on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at Claddagh Senior Living and Memory Care in Caledonia, MN.

Wayne was born on February 25, 1937, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Hazel and Stanley Purtzer. Growing up Wayne followed in his cousin Warren Kelly’s footsteps who was known to be a prankster. After graduating from Atkinson High School in Lincoln, he enlisted in the Army from 1955 – 1957, where he operated a bull dozer to help build an air strip in Guam. When his time in the Army was over, Wayne returned to Nebraska, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education in Industrial Arts and Social Studies. This is where he met his first wife Dorothy Christianson. The two married on November 24, 1962, in Red Cloud, Nebraska. From this union a son, Ray, and daughter, Jill, were born. In 1963 Wayne taught and earned his Masters of Arts in Industrial Arts from Colorado State College. He finished his educational endeavors with his Doctorate of Industrial Arts from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in 1971. The couple welcomed their first child Ray, in 1967, and their second child Jill in 1971, Wayne took great pride in being a father. During this time, they moved their family to Minnesota City, so he could teach at Winona State University. During this time, they raised Labrador dogs, which Ray and Wayne spent a lot of time with duck hunting. Wayne and Ray also explored their hobby of Trap and Skeet Shooting. The whole family spent time with family and friends on local canoe trips on weekends as well as trips to the Boundary Waters. Dorothy passed away in July of 1990, while Ray and Jill were in college. On July 13, 1991 Wayne married his second wife Joan Redig, a union bringing two families together. The couple spent their time training Labrador Retrievers for field trials, and allowing Wayne to spend time on the Mississippi River duck hunting, volunteering as a First Responder, dairy farming with Joan, trips to South America, New Zealand, and time in the great outdoors of the United States, including many National Parks, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Areas of Minnesota and Canada’s Quetico. Wayne spent a total of 29 years teaching at WSU, he taught in the Department of Industrial Arts until its closing, and then transferred to the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation which included Advanced Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Outfitting, Trap and Skeet Shooting, where he applied his interest that were so much his lifestyle. After retirement in 1998 Wayne and Joan bought a farm in rural Houston, allowing the couple to spend countless hours doing activities they loved together. Wayne also took this time to take several hunting trips for Caribou in Northeast Canada, as well as Elk and Bear. Wayne took great pride in designing the couples retirement home and managing the building of the 3-acre wildlife pond to be used for training the Labradors.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter, Jill (Jason) Reed; son, Ray (Lena) Purtzer; sisters-in law: Loris Purtzer, Theresa (Donald) Yaeger, Sister Ann Redig, Mari Gannon, Ardis (Robert) Johnson, Jane Redig, Kathy Redig; brothers-in law: Robert Redig, Donald Yaeger, Robert Johnson; grandsons: Campbell Purtzer, Cameron Purtzer; step-grandsons: Robbie Hahn, Eil Hahn; niece, Shana (Doug) Durham; nephew, JK (Denise) Purtzer.

He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Dorothy Purtzer; brother, Jim Purtzer; brothers-in-law: John Williams, and Patrick Gannon, Carol Christensen, Russell Christensen, and Harold Christensen.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you, to the staff of Claddagh Senior Living and Memory Care where he resided since October 2023, and the staff of Mayo Hospice, for the compassionate care shown to both Wayne and his family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Watopa Retriever Club in Wayne’s name, via Joan Redig.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Hoff Funeral Home in Houston, with Military Honors, and visitation to follow till 4pm.

Service will be livestreamed. Please follow the link below to watch remotely.

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc1NjMwODAzMjM3NzkxNSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==