Wayne LeRoy Weems was born April 28, 1958, in Phillipsburg, KS, the second son of Loland Arthur and May Louise Smith Weems. He departed this life on Sunday, August 21, 2011 near his home of Henderson, IL. Wayne grew up in Kirwin, KS and attended Eastern Heights where he graduated with the class of 1978.
After graduation his mother encouraged him to pursue a vocation in plumbing. He successfully completed the plumbing program at Goodland Vocational Technical school but never officially worked as a plumber because he had a greater passion for cars. He later enlisted in the US Navy and shortly after his medical discharge he followed his older brother Everett to Olathe, KS to attend Mid-America Nazarene College.
While attending school he met Nina Ruth Robinson who he married on August 22, 1981. To this union three children were born, Wayne, Jr., Jennifer and Amber. It was during his marriage to Nina that Wayne moved his family to Moline, IL to be closer to her family. The marriage ended in divorce. Wayne remained in the Moline area which is where he met and married his second wife, Denise B. Thompson, on Feb. 17, 2000, in Warren County, IL. Joining his family with this union were his wife's daughters, Breann and Ehrin.
At the time of his death, Wayne was owner/operator of Wayne's Pilot Car Service, Galesburg, and was an over the road truck driver. Prior to that, he had been employed at DCM Transport and Inness Farm Supply, both in Galesburg. When he wasn't on the road he enjoyed watching his Kansas City Chiefs, UFC Ultimate Fighting, fishing, and scuba diving. One of his proudest moments in his life was watching his son Wayne Jr. on UFC. Wayne loved a good joke and wouldn't hesitate to call you anytime day or night to share it with you. He truly had a heart of gold despite circumstances in his life.

He is survived by his wife, Denise Thompson of Galesburg, IL; his son Wayne Weems Jr and Jessica Miller (Fiancee') of Rock Island, IL; his daugheters Jennifer Weems and Ryan Gustaf (Fiancee') of Moline, IL; Amber Weems of Davenport, IA; Breann Stevens and Dale Crooks (Fiancee') and Ehrin Stevens and husband Marco Salazar, all of Galesburg, IL; sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Wade Hanks, of DuQuoin, IL; brothers and sisters-in-law, Everett and Terry Weems, Emporia, KS., and Loland "Ed" and Margaret Weems, Tellico Plains, TN.; eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial visitation is planned for Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg, KS.