DeWayne J. Headley

DeWayne (Wayne) James Headley died on January 7, 2022 at his winter home in Casa Grande, Arizona.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, January 17, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown.  Paul Haakenson, Janet Klenk, and Jolene Krisher will officiate.  The service will be live streamed on our website and Facebook live.

Visitation will be Sunday, January 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel.

Burial will be at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls on Friday, January 21, at 1:00 pm.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Johnson family.  Active pallbearers will be Ralph DeRaad, Ron Freesemann, Roy Grout, Heath Headley, Nathan Headley, and Dennis Varilek.

Wayne was born June 18, 1941 in Bradley, SD to Delbert and Cora (Johnson) Headley.  He grew up on farms in the Garden City and Wallace areas and graduated from Webster High School in 1959.

He attended South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and while there, he volunteered to help fight the Deadwood wildfire.  Wayne enlisted in the US Marine Corp in 1963 and received his basic training at Camp Pendleton.  He was stationed at naval air stations in Memphis, TN where he was trained as a hydraulics mechanic, Grand Prairie, TX where his daughter was born, and El Toro, CA before serving in Vietnam as a hydraulics mechanic and a tail gunner.  He was a Sergeant when he was honorably discharged in 1967.

Wayne married Peg Campbell on March 21, 1965 at Saint Pauli Church near Wallace.

After returning from Vietnam, Wayne worked for Telelect in Minneapolis and Terrace Park Dairy in Watertown before enrolling in the building trades program at Watertown Votech.  After graduation in 1971, the family moved to Rapid City where he worked for other contractors.  In 1976, he and his brother, Steven, started Headley Construction and worked together until retirement.

In later years, Wayne enjoyed camping, fishing, and playing games with his family and friends.  He was always up for a road trip and was known for his story telling around the campfire or kitchen table.

Survivors include his wife, daughter Dawn, brothers Larry (Helen) Headley and Steven (Bonnie) Headley, aunt Catherine Nelson (sister of Cora), numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel          www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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