Wayne Edmund Cease

About Wayne

Wayne E. Cease, 87, of Bagley, Minnesota died on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at his home in Bagley, Minnesota surrounded by his loving family.

Wayne was born March 30, 1934 in Bagley, Minnesota, the son of Edmund and Florence (Hanson) Cease. He was raised and educated in Bagley graduating from Bagley High School in 1952. He was active as a trombonist in the marching band and later played with the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Wayne enlisted in the United States Army in 1953. He was stationed in Japan as a draftsman with occasional missions to Korea. He was honorably discharged after serving our country in 1955.

Wayne attended Concordia College in Moorhead, then studied Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1958. Wayne married Arlene B. Ellickson on a hot day on July 25, 1959 near Oklee, Minnesota at Valle Lutheran Church. They moved to Bagley and Wayne worked with his father at the Cease Funeral Home serving the northern part of Clearwater County in Clearbrook and Gonvick and then partnered with his father full-time in 1965. They also operated one of the first Clearwater County ambulance services until it was sold to Red Offerdahl. Wayne also served as Clearwater County Deputy Coroner with his father for over 50 years. His skills as a funeral director were unparalleled. Wayne was so proud of his kids and grandkids as some became third and fourth-generation funeral directors and joined the firm.

He loved being the general contractor in building six beautiful funeral homes. Wayne served as president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association in 1992. Wayne was very community minded and involved in the early amateur boys hockey program in Bagley. He and several partners conceived and built what was then the Greensview Nursing Home in 1968 where he served as the first administrator until 1980. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America serving as scoutmaster and volunteered many hours of his time, later earning a Silver Beaver in honor of his service. He was also very active with state and local politics. Wayne instilled in his children and grandchildren a love of the outdoors through fishing, hunting, and camping. He loved Minnesota fishing openers and exploring northern Manitoba on fishing expeditions with friends and family.

Wayne loved to golf and helped found and develop, along with many others, what later would become Twin Pines Country Club. Wayne loved traveling with his wife Arlene on many adventures all over the world. Later, Wayne and Arlene enjoyed spending winters in Tucson, AZ. Wayne loved to spend time at his beloved cabin on upper Red Lake and hosted many get-togethers in his garage. Wayne enjoyed making jelly and jam from wild fruits he collected, including prickly pear cactus. Wayne was an able storyteller with a dry wit and a great sense of humor. Wayne was a member and a past president of Faith Lutheran Church, a past commander of the Irvin Blix American Legion Post # 16 of Bagley. Wayne along with others helped initiate the construction of the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial in downtown Bagley. He was a member of the Lions and Rotary clubs where he was past president in Bagley. Wayne was very involved in a Rotary district project called Latin American Rotary Aid (L.A.R.A). Wayne traveled to Santa Barbara, Honduras on 29 mission trips, helping to coordinate construction and health projects in the central mountain region of Honduras and developed many lasting friendships. Family was everything to him.

Wayne is survived by five children;

Kevin (Ann) Cease of Bemidji, MN,

Kent (Lori) Cease of Park Rapids, MN,

Kurt (Jill) Cease of Hines, MN,

Kory (Elizabeth) Cease of Grand Rapids MN,

Kelly (Mark) Cease Bowman of Solway MN,

12 grandchildren- Brett (Julia), Allison (Chase), Jasmine, Olivia, Connor, Ian, Madelyn, Eddie, Charles, Kara, Kyle, Kaden, a sister - Carolyn Rice of Bloomington, two sisters-in-law - Gloria (Dave) Melby of St. Cloud and Linda (Winton) Mickelson of Oklee, MN, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arlene in 1995 and a brother-in-law David Rice.

memorial service

Funeral Services for Wayne

February 10, 2022

Faith Lutheran Church 32 Bagley Ave NW, Bagley, MN 56621, USA

Visitation will be one hour prior. A time of visitation will also be held the evening before on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be held at Bagley City Cemetery in Bagley, MN. Military Honors will be accorded by the Irvin Blix American Legion Post # 16 of Bagley.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home