My Life, as written by Wayne N. Hawes I was born July 4, 1926, in a two bedroom, farm home, in Kenesaw, NE. The third of ultimately five children, to Mary Hazel Billesbach and John Leonard Hawes. My arrival coincided with the start of the stock market crash, bank failures, and fore closures. Also, the devastating days of the great drought of the thirties was about to envelope us. I do remember the darkened skies that turned day into night. The R.E.A. (rural electrification) would not be available for another 22 years. We had no electric lights, no refrigeration, no running water, no air conditioning, and no indoor plumbing – none of the present day conveniences. In the winter, water that boiled all day in the tea kettle would have ice in it the next morning. We slept, three to a bed, and five in a bedroom. I attended grade school in district 70, Adams County. There was no kindergarten or pre-school in those days. We walked two and a quarter miles to school except in 1938 when we moved and the walk became one and a half miles. And as my son likes to say – "UP HILL BOTH WAYS"! I graduated from the 8th grade in May of 1939, Valedictorian of my class (I was the only 8th grader!) There were no school buses in those days, no hot lunches. I still remember and can taste the bean sandwiches or perhaps a slice of mother's dill pickles as a filler. Jelly, peanut butter and syrup, were wishful thinking. Occasionally for supper we would have a fried egg – as many as we wanted, as long as it was one! Fried chicken was a treat in the summer time and in the winter, dad would butcher a hog or a beef which would give us fresh meat for a short time. After graduating from grade school, I became a passenger in the "Hawes School Bus" which was driven by my two year ahead-of-me brother. We, over the years, graduated from a whippet "4", to a whippet "6", to a Model A Ford. We, over the years provided transportation to Permenter, Goudy, Schneider, and Gallagher families as well as all five of us Haweses. Dad would give my older brother 50 cents, on Monday, and that paid for the gas to last all week! That was a 10 mile round trip each day. So, we all graduated from Kenesaw High School in the years 1940, 41, 43, 45, and 1947. I do remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the "D" Day invasion of Europe, the first atomic bomb that ultimately ended WWII – the war to end all wars! Our family, being Catholic, attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kenesaw, which was a predominately Protestant Community. As I grew up I married Maxine Goudy "the girl next door". She literally was the girl next door, living a quarter mile down the road. I went through the whole chain of command at church so to speak. I of course was altar boy, was the first lector after Ecumenical Council #2 and resigned from the Trustee when we moved to Grand Island in 1965. As a Trustee, Maxine and I were privileged to be among the select few to be delegates to the dedication of the new Cathedral Of Our Risen Christ in Lincoln. You get all the priests, bishops, sisters and other clergy in one location, there is not a lot of room left for us lay people! In the summer of 1965, I became aware of the New Holland Plant coming to Grand Island. After much deliberation we decided to quit farming and I applied for employment with the company. I was subsequently hired and I became number six on the payroll, and my first day of work was October 18, 1965. We bought a home and moved to Grand Island in late November, after disposing of my farm equipment at public auction. My employment with New Holland continued until December 1, 1986. In August of 1977, Maxine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis only two years after she graduated from Kearney State College (now called U.N.K), never getting to use her teaching certificate. That explains my early retirement – to be her at-home caregiver. This continued until her death February 9, 2005. I am a 53 year member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church where I was trustee, original Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and member of the Perpetual Adoration Society. I am a 50 plus year member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, and co-edited the monthly newsletter of Council #1159. I volunteered at the Nebraska Veterans Home and served on various committees at Central Catholic High School. Maxine and I enjoyed our Pinochle, card club, and ball room dancing. I am survived by my son, Steve and his wife DeAnna, son, Dave, and daughter, Kelly and her husband, Claude Renfro. Grandchildren, Jenni and Eric Christner, Scott Hawes and Megan Schmidt, Taylor Renfro and McKenna Renfro, great grandchildren, Charlie and Mia Christner. A brother, Jim Hawes and a sister Gena Rose Portz. I am welcomed into heaven by my parents, my wife, Maxine, brother, Richard and sister, Marilyn Wiebe. I would appreciate memorials to be directed to Grand Island Central Catholic, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Habitat For Humanity or the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who so ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Wayne died Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at the age of 92, at Tiffany Square Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Martin L. Egging will be the celebrant. Interment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, November 26, 2018, from 4 – 6 p.m. with a vigil service at 6 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Wayne's obituary. Visitation Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Monday, November 26, 2018 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 518 West State Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Vigil Service Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Monday, November 26, 2018 6:00 PM 518 West State Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Tuesday, November 27, 2018 10:30 PM 518 West State Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801