Wayne L. Hodson's Obituary
LERNA, IL - Wayne Hodson, age 58 of Lerna, IL, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, September 8, 2013 while a patient at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, and following his battle with cancer. His family and church family will host a Celebration of Life Service at Salisbury Church located at 2350 Madison Avenue in Charleston on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. A service celebrating Wayne's life was held earlier in Mina, SD on Saturday, September 14, 2013 and was followed by burial in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ipswich, SD. Wayne was born on April 12, 1955 in Ipswich, SD to the late Leonard and Ruby (Frazier) Hodson. He graduated from South Dakota State University in 1977 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then moved to Kankakee, IL to work for Swift Foods. He married Patricia Owens on August 23, 1980 and in 1982 they made the move to Lerna, IL as Wayne accepted a position with Kal Kan Pet Foods as a project engineer, a position he held until 2012. Wayne loved to camp, boat and take road trips with his wife and three sons. He also enjoyed target shooting and hunting, designing and woodworking, and spending time on his tractors. Laughing, trading stories, and spending time with his family and friends made him happy. His brother Dale enjoyed his visits to the family farm in South Dakota for hunting, fishing and family time. Wayne taught him many things and was his best friend. He was an active member of Salisbury Church in Charleston, as well as an active participant in Walk to Emmaus, Great Banquet and Chrysalis spiritual renewal communities. Serving God by helping people was his greatest passion. Wayne loved and cherished his wife and sons, and his memory will always be treasured in their hearts. They feel so blessed to have been loved by Wayne. He is survived by his wife Pat; three sons, Joshua of Boston, MA, Adam and Eric of Charleston; a brother, Dale (Myra) Hodson of Ipswich and Myra's mother, Betty Fillbach; two nieces, Kristin (Shane) Molitor and children of Madison, SD and Ashley (Matt) Badenhorst and children of Ipswich. He is also survived by his aunts, Marjorie Wipf, Joan Hodson and Marian Jones; his uncles, Chester Opland and James Jones; and many cousins including special cousin, Sharron Griffith. He is also survived by Pat's family who loved him very much. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Merritt Jones, Aunt Irene Opland, Uncle Bob Hodson, his grandparents and step-grandfather, a special cousin, Yvonne Griffith, and fathers-in-law, Carl Peters and Robert Owens. Wayne will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends in South Dakota and Illinois. In place of flowers, donations in memory of Wayne may be made to House of Abraham Orphanage in Haiti where Wayne volunteered. Please make checks payable to ""ISLEGO - House of Abraham"" and in the memo please put ""For the Children"". Gifts may be mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.
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