Obituary

Henry “Hank” Ver Wayne III

SIDNEY – Henry Joseph Ver Wayne III, age 79, passed away at Providence Medical Hospital in Mission Viejo, California on April 13, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Hank was born on April 2, 1945, in Sidney, Ohio to the late Henry J. Ver Wayne II and Ethel Catherine (Littleton) Ver Wayne.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Karen K. (Reish) Ver Wayne of 58 years and their two children, Tracey (& Dean) Flint of Nampa, Idaho, and Marc (& Natasha) Ver Wayne of Clover, South Carolina. He is survived by one sister, Lynne Anne Jones of Plano, Texas. He also has four grandchildren, Tyler and Mason Flint, and Gabe and Payton Ver Wayne.

Hank graduated from Holy Angels High School in 1963, and received his B.A. from The Ohio State University in the College of Arts & Science as a History major. Hank had 7 different jobs before he graduated from college. He sold and delivered The Dayton Daily News in his youth, and worked in a warehouse unloading bicycles off a train. In college, he worked in a hardware store, a camera shop and started his first company sharpening scissors. He always loved sales, so selling copiers and supplies right out of college was perfect for him. He was fascinated by the stock market and decided to get a job working for Bache and Company; they sent him to New York City to study and learn the Stock Market. He learned a lot, but the job required him to sell to family and friends, even when the market was down, which Hank was not comfortable with. Still living in Columbus, Ohio, he became a sales representative for Heatilator Fireplace Company. After a year, they offered him the California District Sales Manager position. Hank worked in the fireplace business until retirement; he started Coast Fireplace, Inc. and later started Hank Ver Wayne and Associates, as a Manufacturing Representative.

Hank was a hard worker and prided himself on taking care of his customers. He always returned phone calls and tried to find a solution to any number of problems. He was very honest and following the rules was important to him.

Hank loved to go ocean fishing in Mexico with family, friends and business associates; it was relaxing for him. He also loved photography, which he learned in college. He may have stayed in college a little longer, so he could learn to develop film in a dark room.  Of course, his most favorite things were his children and grandchildren; he learned magic tricks just for them. He was also a huge fan of The Ohio State Football Team and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hank was diagnosed with early dementia in 2013 and learned how to cope with it, without letting it bring him down.  He loved thinking about his teenage years with his friends, driving his motorcycle up and down the streets and alleys of Sidney, and camping and fishing in Tawawa Park. He had a wonderful sense of humor and could make you laugh, even if you were mad at him.

In lieu of flowers, make donations to:
Alzheimer’s Orange County, 2515 McCabe Way, Suite 200, Irvine, CA  92614
Attn: Community Engagement Dept., or call 949-955-9000

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