Wayne L. Espeseth, loving husband and father, age 75, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 20, 2021.

Wayne was born on April 8, 1945 at Rice Lake Hospital to Ole Andrew and Cora (Greeley) Espeseth, the middle of six boys. He grew up on a small farm on the Poor Farm Road in Barron, Wisconsin. Wayne attended Langlaid School, Barron High School, and LIFE Bible College, in Los Angeles, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. Prior to attending college he worked at Kolb’s Meat Locker in Barron.

He married Janet Lynn Humes in Urbana, Illinois, on July 21, 1965. Upon graduating from LIFE, he and Janet pastored Foursquare churches in Petersburg, Illinois, Royal Oak, Michigan, and Barron (where he served for 40 years).

Wayne was an active member of the community. He was involved in Kiwanis over 30 years, including serving as president. He was an enthusiastic member of Ducks Unlimited, serving on their committee for more than a decade. He was president of the Barron Ministerial Association and founder of the Barron Food Pantry. He found great joy in supporting the Barron Bears, no matter what the sport was. He was an avid reader with more than 9,000 books in his library. He was passionate about getting children and youth to church camp, serving in a variety of roles to make camp a memorable experience. He was passionate about fishing and made an annual pilgrimage to Canada, with a group of friends, as long as he was physically able. He harvested more than 50 deer near his cabin in Minong, Wisconsin, and shared that love of the outdoors with family and friends. He was a man known for his dry sense of humor. He was passionate about his faith, which he shared openly, and would look for opportunity to pray for anyone he could.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Espeseth of Barron; one daughter, Corie (Brendon) Manglos of Pardeeville, Wisconsin; one son, Jeff (Traci) Espeseth of Des Moines, Washington; four grandchildren, Addison (Dillon) Espeseth of Boulder City, Nevada; Elena Manglos, Pardeeville; Dylan Espeseth of Des Moines, Washington; and Landon Manglos, Pardeeville, and one great-grandson, Sekani Ro Morter of Pardeeville; mother-in-law, Eileen Place, Savoy, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Florence Espeseth of Parsons, Kansas and Marlene Espeseth of Barron; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Cora Espeseth; and brothers, Carlton, Irvin and Allen Espeseth.

Funeral services for Wayne Espeseth will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Barron Foursquare Gospel Church in Barron. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2021, also at Foursquare Gospel Church and one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning. Burial will be at Wayside Cemetery in Barron.

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron.

Last Update: Feb 23, 2021 12:15 pm CST