Oct. 28, 1923-Oct. 6, 2007 Wayne Donald Ely died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, at Community Hospital in McCook. He was 83 years old. Wayne was born on Oct. 28, 1923 at McCook to Orin P. and Opal Theresa (Troedsen) Ely. He graduated from McCook High School in 1941. He entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 29, 1943, and served during World War II. He and his company landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 31, 1945. He reenlisted on Oct. 14, 1950, and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 24, 1951. Wayne was united in marriage to Erma "Laverna" Kotschwar on Jan.1, 1947 in Oberlin, Kan. To this union two children were born. They made their home in McCook where Wayne was a salesman for Big A Auto Parts. He retired in 1988 after 40 years of service. He was a member of First Congregational Church and lifetime member of Veteran's of Foreign Wars. He loved hunting and fishing and working in his yard and garden. Preceding him in death were his parents, Orin and Opal Ely; two sisters, Doris Stewart and Elaine Waterman; and one brother, Curtis Ely. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Laverna Ely of McCook; son, Mark Ely and wife, Christine Klein, of Gainesville, Fla.; one daughter, Kathy and husband, Ron Pursley of Benkelman; two brothers, Roger Ely and wife, Karen, and Kenneth Ely all of McCook; one sister, Margaret and husband, Lionel Verraneault of McCook; and two grandchildren, Joshua Beideck and wife, Lisa, and their daughter, Haley, of McCook and Ashley and husband, Dustin Curtis, and their daughter, Kyah, of Lincoln; numerous relatives and a host of friends.

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