Wayne Weston Applegate went to be with his lord and savior Jesus Christ Saturday, March 21, 2015.

Wayne was born June 9, 1948, in Russell, Kansas, to Dail and Joyce Applegate.Wayne graduated from Osborne High School in 1966. He graduated from McPherson College with a degree in ag management and did graduate work in monogastric nutrition in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Wayne married Linda Brown March 3, 1973, in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. They moved back to Kansas to farm and had a farrow to finish hog operation.They started Post Rock Natural Grains where they sold amaranth pancake mix they had developed. They were recognized by Rodale Research Center and received the Agricultural Innovator of the Year in 1987 in Kansas. They moved to Russell, Kansas, where Wayne worked as a jailer/EMT before moving to Albert Lea to work for American Amaranth as director of ag resources.

Wayne worked for Viracon in Owatonna for 15 years at various positions ending as a safety coordinator. He moved over to Tru Vue in Faribault as safety manager before retiring to work as a self-employed contractor.

Wayne was raised in a strong Christian family and rededicated his life to the lord Oct. 2, 1973. He was a member of Assembly of God Church in Albert Lea. He was a Boy Scout leader, a Royal Ranger leader and served on the church and the Youth for Christ boards. He helped with construction at the YFC Prairie River Camp, the Albert Lea YFC building and remodeling projects at Assembly of God Church. Wayne was instrumental in leading two mission trips to Mississippi to help after Hurricane Katrina.

Wayne has been active in the local community of Albert Lea by volunteering with Shine Fest, Healthy Hearts and Homes, Rock the Block, re-roofing the Albert Lea Children’s Center and helping with Albert Lea Lake clean-up projects.

Wayne is survived by Linda, his wife of 42 years; daughter, Stephanie (John) Schneider, of Albert Lea; sons Ryan (Corinne) Applegate of Albert Lea and Daniel (Esther) Applegate of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Zachery Schneider, Maddie Schneider and Gianna Applegate of Albert Lea and Isabel, D’Artagnan and Griffin Applegate of San Antonio; brother, Jack (Barbara) Applegate,  of Osborne, Kansas; sisters Ruth (Richard) Riley of Valley Falls, Kansas, Nancy (Steve) Lundy of Hays, Kansas, and Kristine (Kevin) Lawson of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; and other friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dail and Joyce Applegate; brother-in-law, Murray Ray; great-nephew, Matthew Applegate; and aunts and uncles.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Assembly of God Church in Albert Lea with a visitation at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Assembly of God Church, Albert Lea Youth for Christ or Healthy Hearts and Homes. Instead of sending thank yous, his family will donate that postage money to Youth for Christ.