Wayne Schmitcke

Wayne Kenneth Schmitcke, 71, Hazelton, passed away on February 26, 2024.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00PM with a prayer service starting at 6:00PM, Friday, March 1, at Parkway Funeral Service.

Interment at St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery, Hazelton, ND

Wayne was born in Bismarck, ND on March 16, 1952 to Esther & Lyle Schmitcke of Hazelton. He was the fourth born of six boys. He attended school in Hazelton, ND and graduated from Hazelton High School in 1970.

Wayne and Debbie (Johs) met in 1971 and were married on August 8, 1975. His family was complete when Michael was born in 1978 and Kelly in 1981.

Wayne’s pride and joy were his boys and family. He loved to be working in his shop, working on his hay grinder or be in the field working. He usually had more than one project going on in the shop at one time too. His hands and body had a rough exterior at times, but he was a kind-hearted, gentle man. He loved showing his grandchildren the mechanical side of how things worked. There wasn’t much he couldn’t fix.

Wayne did machining and welding work for many years for area farmers and ranchers. He also had cattle during his earlier years. He ground hay for 46 years. He built his last hay grinder literally from the ground up. “Betsy” the hay grinder who traveled near and far as he enjoyed visiting with his customers and the friendships made over the years. You could see his license 1GRINDER or 1HAYMAN traveling across the county.

Wayne’s most treasured days were the days he could work with his boys and grandchildren. Michael, Kelly and Wayne had a joking relationship on most days. The boys had many nicknames for Wayne, “Old Man,” “Papster,” and “Pappy”. He just shook his head and laughed. He liked his jokes and you knew Wayne was around by his loud and infectious laugh.

He enjoyed listening to the markets and weather, but that usually discouraged him at times. If you had Wayne grind hay for you, you know he needed the perfect wind direction.

Wayne liked to play guitar in his spare time. His boys loved to listen to their daddy play guitar when they were little, which then turned into his grandchildren enjoying grandpa’s guitar playing. He also loved his oldie music.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Debbie, of 48 years; his sons, Michael (Sarah) Schmitcke and Kelly (Jillian) Schmitcke and six grandchildren – Taylor, Logan, Blake, Alisha, Johnathan and Nicholas; his brothers Jerry, Alvin, Dean (Arlene) and Kevin (Patti) along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Myron.

Don’t worry dad, we’ll take care of mom and your cats.