Wayne Donald Burson

Wayne D. Burson, 85, of Grand Island, NE died on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Grand Island Veterans Hospital. 

Funeral services will be 11 AM Friday, March 7, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church with pastor Carl Eliason officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday, March 6th at Apfel Funeral Home. 

Wayne was born on December 4, 1939 in Litchfield, NE to Earl and Eliza (Finley) Burson. HE grew up in Loup City and graduated from Loup City High School. He entered the Army on June 20, 1958 and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on May 3, 1961.

He was united in marriage to Beverly Pittz on November 11, 1972 in Holstein, NE. After which the couple lived in Grand Island where he was employed by Texaco and later Nebraska Petroleum. He also lived in Ayr, NE. From the age of 13 to 18 he worked at the local Loup City gas station where he even worked over his school lunches.

He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. He loved to drive truck – always saying he was lucky to have a job he loved! He loved Husker Volleyball, reporting the local weather to his family, eating sweets, watching old western movies, loved his children and grandchildren, and couldn’t wait to be reunited with Bev.

He is survived by his daughters, Wendy (Richard) Killingsworth, Tonya (Chad) Shriner, Trisha (Braden) Manolidis; 10 grandchildren: Daniel (Allison) Shriner, Tyler (Blair) Shriner, Cooper and Makenna Manolidis, Junior, Kingston, Jasani, Finley, Dawson and Jaxon Killingsworth; and three great grandchildren: Avery, Boone and Huntley Shriner. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, grandson Braxton Killingsworth, and siblings, Ernest, Leroy, Evelyn, Edwinna, Ivan and Ima Jean