Wayne Lee Fenner, age 66, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at his residence in Huron. A celebration of his life with a time of sharing was held at 6:30 PM, Sunday, March 24th, at the Kuhler Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Maplewood Cemetery at Iroquois.
Wayne was born April 26, 1952, to Frank and Phyllis Fenner at Huron. He graduated from Iroquois High School in 1970. He received his Bachelor's Degree in English and German from South Dakota State University in 1974. Wayne went on to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he received his Master's degree in English.
His dedication to writing and teaching of the English language began in Lima, Ohio and at the John F Kennedy School in Berlin, Germany. He was also lecturer and professor in Germany, Belgium and Netherlands through the University of Maryland as well as the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, while he started work on his PhD.
Wayne returned to South Dakota in 1992 and became Education Coordinator at the Career Planning Center in Huron. His greatest joy and satisfaction came during his teaching career at Huron's alternative school, Pride High, for over 20 years. Wayne earned the 2002 Teacher of the Year award. He retired from teaching in 2014.
Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Frank Fenner, in 1995.
He is survived by his loving family, mother, Phyllis Fenner of Iroquois; his brother, Alan (Marlys) Fenner of Menno; and his sister, Susan (Doug) Meyer of Iroquois. He also had three nieces, Carrie (Zach) Oster of Whitewater, WI; Erin (Cody) Raveling of Marshall, MN and Shelby (Brodee) Landmark of Volga; his grandniece, Eden Raveling; his grandnephew, Beau Raveling; as well as a grandniece or grandnephew Landmark, due in September.
Wayne dedicated his life to education and his teaching career, and cared deeply for his students.