In Memory of Wayne John Preston

Wayne John Preston, age 84, of Merrill, Iowa, (formerly of Battle Creek, Iowa) passed away on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at the UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center of Sioux City, Iowa.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. Eugene Tolstedt will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa. A Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa.   

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Wayne John Preston was born January 30, 1938, in the middle of a blizzard, on the family farm near Battle Creek, Iowa to Henry and Blanche (Goodrich) Preston.  He attended school in a one-room country school through 7^th grade, and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1956.  Following graduation, he started farming.

Wayne married Carol Ann Lorenzen on February 14, 1960 in Battle Creek, IA.  They operated the family farm, which became a century farm in 1979.  Wayne also worked for several years at Midwest Industries building Shore Lande'r Trailers.  He liked to sign them before they went out the door.  They had four children Randy, Jeffrey, Melissa, and Tim.  Wayne and Carol had many friends and enjoyed bowling, playing cards and attending their children’s many activities.  Family was important and as busy as farming keeps you, they always found time for family vacations. They spent many summers in the family station wagon driving from coast to coast to visit family and see the sights. 

Wayne was a perfectionist.  Whether it was fields free of any weeds, most well-manicured lawn, or cleanest campsite.  He could be quiet but he could also start up a conversation with anyone, especially about farming.

Wayne was a life-time member of the First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, which was founded by his grandparents.  Wayne was a founding member of the Battle Creek CB’ers, a 4-H leader, Farm Bureau board member, Chair of the Ida County Extension Council, Maple Township Trustee, a Mason, and a member of various livestock producer organizations.

Carol passed away in 1996.  Wayne moved to Colorado in 1997 and spent 20 wonderful years with his friend Pat Drewer, golfing, camping, traveling, playing bingo and enjoying their time together in Colorado and Arizona.  They were camp hosts several summers at Crawford Creek.

Wayne moved back to Iowa in 2018 and has loved being back on the farm.  Wayne’s greatest joy has always been farming and he was in his element when he could see and talk about how farming has changed over the years.  He liked to visit the chickens who provided his daily eggs and loved to sneak food under the table to his three grand dogs. 

Wayne passed away peacefully on May 19, 2022 at Unity Point Health - St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, IA.  He spent his last days surrounded by family and friends. 

He will be lovingly remembered by his children and their spouses:  Randy (Nancy) Preston of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jeffrey (Kathy) Preston of Jefferson, South Dakota, Melissa (Terry) Willer of Merrill, Iowa, and Tim (Terri) Preston of Omaha, Nebraska;  grandchildren: Kayla Preston, Trevor Preston, Kandace (James) Chicoine, James Preston, Jasmine (Ryan) Solstice, Seth Willer, Drew (Liz) Preston, Alex Preston and Anna Preston; three great-grandchildren: Kaden Preston, Aubrey and Kaylee Chicoine; sisters: Delores Doty of Fremont, Nebraska and Ruth Harrison of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; and sister-in-law Barb Hanson of Marina del Rey, California.  He will also be dearly missed by his loving friend Pat Drewer of Lewis, Colorado; her children Tim (Penney) Drewer of Endicott, Washington and Terri (Tom) McConville of Lewis, Colorado; grandchildren: Jennifer (Kody) Malmborg, Theresa (Ryan) Walsh, Ashley (James) Person, Amber (Dan) Woolley, Tyler McConville, and Emilie McConville.

He was preceded in death by his wife Carol Preston; parents Henry and Blanche Preston; brothers-in-law: James Winter, Paul Doty, Donald Harrison, James Lorenzen and Donald Hanson; and Amanda Drewer (Pat Drewer's granddaughter).

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Battle Creek, Iowa.