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Edward E. Wayne, 93 of Floodwood, died Sunday, April 25, 2004, at his home. He was born September 14, 1910, in Floodwood, to Fred and Hannah Wain.

Ed attended Whiteface and Moore grade schools. In 1938, he was employed as a butter maker at the Floodwood Co-op Cremery and attended night school, taking classes in electricity, bookkeeping and dairy husbandry at the University of Minnesota Farm Campus in St. Paul. In the mid 1940's, Ed worked as an electrician on the West Coast in the shipyards. In the 1950's, he was employed as a butter maker at the Floodwood Creamery. During this time, Ed entered various grading contests earning honors and trophies as district and state champion.

In 1946, he married Loretta Romanek, of Floodwood, and they resided there for a few years. In 1955, due to changes in employment, they moved to Center City. At that time, he worked out of the Minneapolis office for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Federal Butter and Dairy Inspector, traveling to creameries in the five state area inspecting cheese, powdered milk and butter.

Ed enjoyed a variety of sports and competition. During his early adult years, he was an avid boxer, enjoyed playing organized baseball, and had a continued lifelong enjoyment of deer hunting with both rifle and bow, shooting his last deer in 1999. Ed attended and participated in numerous archery tournaments across the state with family and friends. Planning retirement, Ed and Loretta moved back to the Floodwood area in 1985 and built their retirement home in rural Floodwood on the St. Louis River.

After retirement, Ed and Loretta became a "couple" of Minnesota snowbirds spending 23 years in Mission, Texas.

He is preceded in death by two great-grandchildren, Collin Wayne (son of Sean and Amber) and Emelia Wayne (daughter of Travis and Erin); sisters, Ruth Darling and May Blessner; and brothers, Henry and John.

Ed is survived by his wife of 57 years, Loretta; daughter, Lenore (Brian) Greene, of Shafer; son, Elard (Mary) Wayne, of Esko; grandchildren: Joe and Jason Greene, of Shafer; Sean (Amber) Wayne, of Duluth; Travis (Erin) Wayne, of West Allis, Wis.; and Brandon (Kathy) Wayne, of Erlanger, KY; great-grandchildren: Nolan, Amaya and Seth Wayne (children of Sean and Amber) and Clara Wayne (daughter of Travis and Erin); sisters: Martha (Steve) Reylek, of Shafer, and Esther (Clifford) Branson, of Cloquet; brothers: George (Bertha) Wayne, of Grand Rapids, and William (Bertha) Wain, of Floodwood.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, April 29, 2004, at 11 a.m., at St. Louis Catholic Church, in Floodwood, with Father Michael Patullo officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 28, from 5-7:30 p.m., at St. Louis Catholic Church, in Floodwood, with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, in Van Buren Township. Services entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet.

To sign the guest book or leave an online tribute, see northlandfuneral home.com

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