Wayne L. Blackledge

Wayne L. Blackledge, 68, Wheaton, MN, passed away in Jesus' arms on Sunday, December 31, 2017, with complications of pneumonia at the Montevideo Hospital in Montevideo, MN.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Michael Breach officiating.

Burial will be in the Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton.  Casket bearers will be Wayne's family.

Visitation will be Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Duane Larry Blackledge was born March 16, 1949, to Willis and Wilma (Menge) Blackledge in Fargo.  He grew up on a farm near Wheaton and had eleven siblings.  He was born with Down Syndrome and attended school for the developmentally disabled.  Wayne loved riding bike, being bat boy for many softball games, fishing, watching old westerns, dancing, bowling, singing and strumming the guitar, activities with Special Olympics, visiting with everyone he met and being with family.  He especially enjoyed deer hunting with Dave Schmitz and his son, Todd.  Wayne even shot two deer on the same day and then fell to his knees to thank God!

Wayne lived in a foster home setting in the late '90s with the Dewey family in Fergus Falls, MN.  He enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise with this family . . . his "Love Boat."  Wayne worked at Productive Alternatives in Fergus, Broadway Industries in Wheaton and helped clean the D-Bar.  He also volunteered at the ARC Thrift Store in Fargo while staying with his sister, JoAnn, after their mother's death.  Wayne's current residence was at Divine House in Dawson, MN, and before that the Divine House in Wheaton for many years.  The family wishes to thank ALL of Wayne's past and present caregivers.  Special thank you to Joetta.

Left to cherish Wayne's memory are his sisters, Helen of Austin, MN, Lillian of Wahpeton, ND, Florence of Sturgeon Lake, MN, Karen of Prior Lake, MN, and JoAnn of Moorhead, MN; brothers, Jim of Omak, WA, and Roy of Little Falls, MN; 37 nieces and nephews; many great nieces and nephews; and special girlfriend DaNan.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Wilma and Willis; sister, Irene; brothers, LaVern, LaVoy and Roger; special friend, Kathy Klindworth; and four nieces and nephews.

Our precious memories of Wayne will be a loving inspiration to us all.  As a friend once said, "Wayne taught me how to love."  God placed him among us for a reason.  We will all carry Wayne . . . "He ain't heavy, he's our brother."