Wayne A. Wagoner, 60, 4430 S. 375 West, passed away at 11:15 p.m. Friday at Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. He was born on July 2, 1950, in Rochester, to Frederick J. and Willa (Stretch) Wagoner. Growing up he shared his childhood with younger brother Dale. Wayne attended Rochester schools and graduated with great pride with his Class of 1969. During his high school years he was very active with the Future Farmers of America. Wayne was a dedicated 10 year Fulton County 4-H member. Enjoying the livestock scene he raised a variety of pigs, including Duroc and Hamps, and cattle, Black Angus and Short Horn, that he also showed in 4-H. Helping out on the family farm Wayne looked forward to planting the ground and preparations for the plant in springtime. There was no better smell than that of fresh turned soil. The bountiful harvest of the fall was a joy to behold with a view perched atop his John Deere combine. The family tradition of grain crops - beans, corn and wheat - were annually rotated to give the greatest yield. On March 7, 1999, at the Grass Creek United Methodist, Wayne married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Crippen. Together they shared 12 years of marriage. Throughout their lives the farming continued as Wayne and his dad farmed ground in Liberty, Wayne and Rochester townships. Wayne's most cherished treasure was his 1955 John Deere "60." This stealth Deere had been in the Wagoner family for well over 50 years. Wayne was a proud member of the "Ritter gang." To relax he listened to the music of Patsy Cline and other country-western artists. As an armchair athlete he cheered for the Cubs, Colts and Notre Dame. With a passion for green and yellow tractors, Wayne was an avid collector of John Deere memorabilia As a sports historian, Wayne was the king of statistics. His title of stat man began during his high school years when he kept stats for the men's sports teams. Later he kept the stats for the vmen's softball league. Over the years he chronicled decades of sports information from local teams to those playing professional sports. He developed a wealth of knowledge and information from tracking teams and their players. Wayne is lovingly remembered by his wife, Shirley Ann (Crippen) Wagoner, at home; his brother Dale F. and Donna Wagoner, Valparaiso; his mother-in-law Vivian Crippen, Rochester; and three nieces, Kim and Don Meyer, Rochester, Angela and Ryan Black, Akron, and Ashley and John Hayes, Star City. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant niece Amanda Wagoner, and his father-in-law Leroy Crippen. A celebration of the life of Wayne A. Wagoner is at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Jan Moyer, the Rev. Don Reed and the Rev. Rod Ruberg officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. Interment is at the Rochester IOOF Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Rochester High School Future Farmers of America. Electronic expressions of sympathy may be sent to his family at goodfamily@rtcol.com.