Obituary of Wayne H Gilliland

Wayne Gilliland passed away June 18^th, 2022. He was 82 years of age. Wayne H. Gilliland was born in St. Francis, KS on April 19^th, 1940, to Lowell H. Gilliland and Beulah Pingetzer. He was the oldest of four boys. In 1945 the family moved to a ranch in the Cherry Valley area south of Franktown. Wayne went to a country school until he entered high school at Castle Rock where he graduated in 1958.

Wayne had a fun childhood with his brothers. At a very young age, he committed his life to God, and he lived everyday of his life with that vow in his heart. He worked on the ranch, quarried rock, logged in the mountains and attended welding school. In 1963, he married Joyce Grotz from eastern Nebraska, and they continued to live on the ranch. Three children were born there: Jane, Jon and Steve. In 1974, the family moved to their own farm in western NE near Grant. Wayne loved farming and watching the crops grow to harvest. In 1990, Wayne and Joyce moved back to Colorado and started a trucking business with their sons at Briggsdale, CO. Wayne traveled the west half of the United States in his truck for the next twenty years. He made many lasting friendships and thoroughly enjoyed traveling the different country sides. In 2010, Wayne decided to slow down a bit, and moved to Pine Bluffs, Wyoming to be near their daughter Jane and her family on their ranch. He did what he could to help with the livestock and putting up hay. Again, he enjoyed what he was doing. In July of 2015, due to failing health, Wayne and Joyce moved to Kersey, CO right next door to their son, Steve and his family. Wayne was a “jack of all trades” and could fix or make anything he set his mind to. He was an excellent welder, wanting everything done neatly and the best it could be until it was completed. He tried to pass these values on to his children.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents; his youngest brother, Jim; sister-in-law Joyce; and one niece.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his children, Jane Bowman (Dave) of Pine Bluffs, Jon (LeeAnn) of Loveland and Steve (Jody) of Kersey; brothers, Dennis Gilliland and Pete Gilliland; four grandchildren, Amanda Bowman Brown (Keenan) of Pine Bluffs, Kyle Bowman (Kaylee) of Pine Bluffs, Parker Gilliland (Lily) of Evans, CO and Levi Gilliland (Chloe) of Lubbock, TX; two great grandsons, Kason and Koyer Bowman; a granddaughter, Emmilyn Jo Brown of Pine Bluffs; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.