Wayne E. Bode, 82, Kewanna, passed away at 6 a.m. on June 27, 2018, while on vacation in Rouen, France.

Wayne Edward Bode was born on Aug. 24, 1935, in Joliet, Ill. He was the treasured son of Theodore and Lillian (Stuenkel) Bode. Growing up he shared his childhood with two brothers, Kenny and Wesley. Wayne graduated in 1953 from Crete-Monee High School, Crete, Ill. He later served in the United States Army from 1958-1960 as an assistant to General Arnold, Commander of the United States Fifth Army.

At the 1962 Will County Fair, Wayne Bode first met and began dating his future wife Glenda. On Aug. 10, 1963, in Wilton Center, Ill., he married Glenda D. Schifler. They have shared nearly 55 years of life’s adventures. They were blessed with four wonderful children, Lisa, Glen, Scot and Todd. The family tree continued to grow with the added blessing of four grandchildren.

Farming was not only his vocation, it was his lifelong passion. He joined his father and older brother Kenny on their family farm in Monee, Ill. where they did custom corn shelling, raised crops and had a dairy herd. After he married, Hampshire hogs and beef cattle were added. In 1971, Wayne (and family) moved to Kewanna, where he and his brother Kenny continued to farm together raising corn and soybeans. In later years, a son Glen joined the farming operation.

A devoted member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, he served as trustee and congregation president. He was also an active member of Indiana Farm Bureau, serving as Fulton County president for four years, and as a State Director for nine years. Wayne’s hobbies included woodworking, making small furniture items and most especially a custom cradle and rocking horse for his grandchildren.

Always wanting to “see what’s over the next hill,” he enjoyed traveling the world with his loving wife. Together they were able to visit 25 countries and most of the states in the USA. Many of these trips were either with or to visit family and friends. Most notably was in 2013 with Glenda Schifler and family to Ireland to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Another was to Kyrgyzstan with Farm Bureau to assist their local farmers in the development of farm advocacy groups.

Left to cherish Wayne Bode’s memory are his wife, Glenda; a daughter, Lisa Bode of Charlotte, N.C.; three sons: Glen Bode and Amy of Kewanna; Scot Bode and Kristie of Batavia, Ill.; and Todd Bode of Fort Myers, Fla.; four grandchildren: Paige and Elena of Kewanna; and Joshua and Taylor of Batavia, Ill.; brother Kenneth Bode and wife Ann of Kewanna; sister in law Susan Bode of Herscher, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding Wayne in death are his parents Ted (1969) and Lillian (1978), and brother Wesley (2018).

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, July 20, at the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester. A celebration of the life of Wayne E. Bode will be at St. John Lutheran Church, 404 Jefferson St., Rochester, on Saturday, July 21, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Rochester IOOF Cemetery.