Wayne LeRoy Ewing, 80, of Griswold, Iowa, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa, following a brief illness on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
Wayne was born on May 13, 1945, in Missouri to Weldon and Lilia Ewing. He graduated from Griswold High School with the Class of 1963.
After graduation, Wayne began a lifetime of hard work. He was employed by Warren Oil, Atlantic Bottling Company, Spencer Foods (Excel), and Henningsen Construction. Wayne worked tirelessly to provide for his family, especially his daughters, Tisha and Shawn. In 2008, he retired and began enjoying the simpler things in life. He was a humble man who believed that nothing in life came free and that hard work was the foundation of everything. He truly was a “simple kind of man,” just like the Lynyrd Skynyrd song.
Throughout his life, Wayne embraced many interests and adventures. He enjoyed bull riding, practicing karate, riding his Ducati motorcycle, and taking pride in his 1979 Chrysler LeBaron. He had a gift for writing heartfelt poems and loved spending time fishing with his faithful dog, Harley.
Wayne was a devoted fan of John Wayne, “The Duke,” and cheered faithfully for the Kansas City Chiefs. One of his greatest joys was being a grandfather. He lovingly created scrapbooks filled with memories of his grandchildren and rarely missed an opportunity to attend Jennifer, Brandon, and Kayla’s activities whenever he wasn’t on the road. His family was his greatest pride.
Wayne also treasured the friendships he shared with his neighbors, Monica Brandt and Mary Kinney. They often stopped by to visit, ask how he was doing, and chat about his beloved rhubarb patch. Wayne would always smile and say, “Take all the rhubarb you want!”
An animal lover at heart, Wayne treated every one of his dogs like family. They were deeply loved throughout their lives, especially his loyal companion and best friend, Harley, who remained by his side until the very end.
Music was another passion in Wayne’s life. He enjoyed listening to Johnny Cash, The Hollies, Creedance Clear Water Revival, The Beach Boys, Steve Miller Band, Cher, Tina Turner, and Jeannie C. Riley, whose song “Harper Valley P.T.A” was one of his favorites.
Wayne had a deep appreciation for nature and wildlife. His love for conservation was recognized when he received a Wildlife Conservation Merit Certificate.
Those left to cherish Wayne’s memory include his daughter, Tisha (Rick) Mendenhall; his grandchildren, Kayla Mendenhall, Brandon Anderson, and Jennifer (Elijah) Rayburn; his brother, Weldon (Pam) Ewing; his nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog and lifelong buddy, Harley.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Weldon and Lilia Ewing; his grandparents, Joseph and Gertrude Collier; his daughter, Shawn (Ewing) Anderson; and his son-in-law, Mark Anderson.
Wayne will be remembered for his quiet strength, unwavering work ethic, gentle heart, love of family, appreciation for nature, and the simple life he cherished. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
A Celebration of Life, with light lunch, will be held from 11:00-12:00 p.m., July 18, 2026, at Central Church of Christ, followed by a graveside service at 12:15 p.m. at Griswold Cemetery, with Rev. Tony Brandt, officiating.
Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Wayne’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
