William Wayne Stepp was born on a farm near Fairfax, Mo., April 25, 1916 to Burney and Laura Stepp, and went home to be with Jesus on May 10, 2012 at the age of 96 in Plano, Texas. He lived and worked on the family farm in Fairfax until he left for college in 1933, earning an agricultural degree from Iowa State University. As part of the greatest generation, he served in the United States Army as a first lieutenant in the Medical Army Corps during World War II in the European theater, landing on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day plus five.

Wayne married Margaret Copeland Elias on December 4th, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo. and they were married for 54 years until her passing in 2000. He earned a degree in business management on the GI Bill and worked many years as a regional sales manager for feed companies. Wayne at age fifty-one earned a double masters degree in both secondary education and public health from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, followed by working sixteen years as Director of Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the City of Independence, Mo. During this period he served on many boards involving public health and civil defense at the local, state, and federal level.

In retirement he pursued many interests and continued to remain active in community volunteer work, gardening, genealogical research, and writing several books.

Later in retirement Wayne relocated to North Texas to be near his daughter’s family. He was a member of LifePoint Church in Plano, Texas. He is predeceased by his wife, Margaret Copeland Elias Stepp. Survivors include son Arthur Wayne Stepp and wife Cindy of Independence, Missouri; daughter Sheryl Feiser and husband George of Plano Texas; grandchildren Aaron and wife Melissa Feiser, Matthew and wife Carolina Feiser, both of Plano, Texas, and David Feiser of La Mirada, CA;, and great-grandchildren Leyla and Andrew Feiser, of Plano, Texas. He was also greatly loved by many friends from LifePoint Church.

Graveside Service and Interment: 3:00 P.M., Sunday, May 13, 2012, English Grove Cemetery, Fairfax, Missouri.
There is no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be directed to: Salvation Army or LifePoint Church Missions earmarked to the South African orphanage (LifePoint Church, 4501 Hedgcoxe Rd., Plano, Texas 75024).
Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services: Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.