Wayne Abbott

GALVA – Wayne B. Abbott, 89, lifetime resident of Galva, passed away on December 5, 2024. He was born on September 5, 1935, in Galva, Illinois, the son of Alva R. and Helen I. (Jackson) Abbott. Wayne graduated from Galva High School in 1953, where he played basketball, track and sang in the chorus. He also played semi-pro basketball. In 1958, he was drafted into the Army, 25th division artillery, and was stationed in Hawaii. He sang in the Soldiers Pacific Chorus.

In 1955, before joining the Army, he joined and served the American Legion Fusiliers for the rest of his life. He took the team to three national competitions and to the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial. They won several competitions and parades under his command. He assisted the Geneseo Legion Color Guard in their first-place win. He also assisted the Mason City Legion Color Guard in their first-place state win. He has attended over 600 veteran’s funeral services with the Fusiliers. Wayne was the American Legion commander for six years. He helped design and plan the Avenue of Flags at the Galva Cemetery. He also designed the Veterans Walk. He was on the Uniform Groups Commission for the American Legion Department of Illinois for seven years and served as director for three years. He was also the superintendent for Veteran's Day at the State Fair.

In 1960, Wayne joined the Civil Defense Search and Rescue and the Galva Fire Department, serving 41 years and left as a Captain. He joined the Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 1960 to 1965. In 1979 he joined and headed the committee over the Fourth of July celebrations for 25 years. In 2003 he was the Grand Marshall in the Fourth of July parade. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir. He enjoyed singing and sang at weddings, funerals and several area dances.

He was a big fan of Willie Nelson. On hot summer days he would leave a cooler of cold water next to his mailbox for the mail carriers and was a blood donor of over 8 gallons to the American Red Cross. Wayne was the type of guy his children would say, “you just can't take him anywhere.” He always had something to say about everything to anybody, and always tried to put a smile on people’s faces. A few things you could say about Wayne, he was funny, stubborn and very patriotic.

He married Lorraine Evans (Norbo) in 1959, and they had three children. He then married Sally Homer in 1974 and they had two children. He is survived by four children; Dawn (Gary) Petersen of Dixon, IL, Robert (Sue) of Dixon, IL, Theresa (Clayton) Dickerson of Victoria, IL and Ryan (Teri) of Kewanee, IL, three stepchildren, twelve grandchildren, four step grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren with one on the way and thirteen step great grandchildren. Wayne is preceded in death by his parents Alva and Helen, brothers, Robert and Donald, sister Dorothy Brody, his wives, a daughter, Kim (Abbott) Thomson, an infant grandson, Joshua Wayne Thomson and stepson Carl Norbo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 12 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva. A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 11 at the funeral home. The burial will be in Galva Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Wounded Warriors.

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