Wayne L. Blue, 89 of Lincoln, died peacefully Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Lincoln. Wayne was born 9/16/1919 in Tecumseh, to the late Albert and Mabel (Elliot) Blue. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Eva and his brother Ralph.
Having served as a pilot in the US Air Force for 20 years, which included completing 50 missions over North Africa in WWII, Wayne lived and worked all over the world. Wayne was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with ten Oak-Leaf Clusters, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) with the Berlin Airlift Device, Medal for Humane Action, National Defense Service Medal, AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four bronze Oak-Leaf Clusters and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Following retirement from the US Air Force, Wayne worked at the University of Nebraska for over 20 years. Wayne was a graduate of the University of Nebraska and played on the 1941 Rose Bowl football team. Wayne was a member of The American Legion Post #3, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, the P-38 National Association and the Corinthians Sunday School Class.
He is survived by his wife, Janet (Ebers) (Jan); Daughters Connie and son-in-law, Les Milliken of Shallotte, NC and Peggy and son-in-law, Eli Chesen, of Lincoln; Son: Barry and daughter-in-law, Rhonda (Polzkill) Blue of Omaha; Grandchildren: Chelsea Chesen of Omaha, A.Berkley Chesen of College Station, TX and fiancée Ben Hanelt of Albuquerque, NM, Erin (Blue) McLaughlin, husband, Chadd McLaughlin, and Taylor McLaughlin of Omaha, Anthony Blue and wife, Valerie (Washington) Blue of Pleasanton, CA and Ashley Blue of Omaha. Wayne also is survived by eight grand-dogs and two grand-cats.
Burial Service: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 9:30 am, Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery (meet at Gate 2).
Funeral Services: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 11:00 am, First United Methodist Church with Pastor Larry Moffet presiding.
Visitation: Family will greet friends Tuesday, June 30, 2009, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Roper and Sons Funeral Home.
The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, to the First United Methodist Church, Lincoln; University of Nebraska Foundation Scholarship for Walk-On Athletes at UNL; or Charity of your choice.