Wayne Boyd Petersen
12 July 1946 - 10 July 2017

Wayne B. Petersen, age 70, passed away from cancer July 10, 2017 in Southlake, Texas. He was born July 12, 1946 in Logan, Utah to Boyd LaRen and Idella Parker Petersen.

Wayne's early years were spent on the family farm in Caldwell, Idaho. In addition to farm chores, Wayne participated in 4H by raising prized animals to show at the local fair. Some of his fondest memories were of hunting and fishing in the Idaho hills. The farm was always a special place for family gatherings. The yearly visits to the farm with its wide-open fields, motor bikes, four wheelers, fishing trips and a loving family were always much anticipated events.

After graduating with honors from Caldwell's Vallivue High School in 1964, Wayne received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy where he majored in civil engineering. He graduated in June, 1968. Immediately after graduation, Wayne and Jean Elizabeth McAskill were married in the Academy Chapel on June 7, 1968. In 1974, Wayne received his MS degree in systems management from the University of Southern California.

Wayne's amazing Air Force career began in 1968 with pilot training in Del Rio, Texas. It wasn't his first choice but it turned out to be one of our favorite assignments. We spent many weekends on Lake Amistad boating and fishing. After graduating pilot training in 1969, Wayne was assigned to the 76th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. He was an instructor pilot in the HC-130 and participated in the recovery and launch of the Apollo and Skylab missions. In 1974, Wayne was stationed at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, as chief of aircrew standardization and evaluation. He participated in the evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon. After a desk assignment at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Ariz., and an assignment as the Base Civil Engineer at Indian Springs, an auxiliary base to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nev., Wayne returned to flying in 1983 and was assigned to the C-21 aircraft as the squadron operations officer at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas.

During his service, Wayne received various ribbons, commendations and medals including the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Republic of Viet Nam Service Medal with Star, and the Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Wayne retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in July, 1988. After retiring, he worked in commercial banking and lending in Dallas, Texas.

Even though there were countless TDYs and a remote assignment, Wayne's heart was always in his home and his family. His faith was a principle of good works and action, and his strength was apparent in how he served his country and his family; he truly excelled at both. He was a willing and patient teacher, whether he was showing his sons, Douglas and Jayson, how to bait a fish hook or helping his daughter, Katie, with algebra. He once readily volunteered to coach a basketball team of energetic five-year olds; he happily served as Cub Scout Pack leader; and he reluctantly but willingly agreed to take on the school booster club as president. He had a kind and generous spirit and lived by his motto "always do your best."

Wayne is survived by his wife, Jean, and his three children: Douglas; Jayson and his wife, Jennifer; and Katie and her husband, Andy Lawson. He has four grandchildren: Sydney, Jakob, Audrey and Parker.

Wayne was interred with Military Honors at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho on Nov. 24, 2017.

(Jeane Petersen, Wayne's wife)