Joseph Wayne Reese, 89, Larwill, passed away at 6:15 p.m. Monday, July 9, 2018, at his home. Born Jan. 28, 1929, in Columbia City, he was the son of Joseph Zachariah and Gladys (Robinson) Reese.

Wayne Reese attended Troy Center School and graduated from Coesse School with the Class of 1947, where he played basketball. He furthered his education at Indiana University and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. On June 2, 1957, he married Kathaleen Tigner. He had worked for Phelps Dodge, U.S. Rubber Co. and Capehart Farnsworth (ITT). Wayne served 25 years as a Trooper with the Indiana State Police Officer, retiring as a Sergeant in 1978 and was a Town Marshall of South Whitley from 1978-1980. He also had owned and operated Reese Trailer Sales and Reese Security in Warsaw. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Fraternal Order of Police.

Loving the outdoors, he enjoyed cutting wood in his 25 acres woods, mushroom hunting, fishing and mowing. He was an avid IU Basketball fan.

Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Kathaleen Reese; daughter, Melody Reese; son-in-law, Pavel Lukes; great-granddaughter, Lucy Lukes; several special nieces and nephews; and granddogs, Target and Heidi Marie. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Millie Wood and Lucille Secrist; brother, Charles Faulstick; and nephew, Ricki Wood.

Visitation is 3-7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at South Whitley Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in his memory to Clancy’s Dream, Border Collie Rescue, www.ClancysDream.org ; the Humane Society of Whitley County; or donor’s choice. Visitwww.demoneygrimes.com to send Wayne’s family condolences online.