Wayne Allen Tavs

Wayne Allen Tavs age 89, of Waupun, formerly of Brandon, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at his home with family at his side.

Wayne was born on February 10, 1932, in Fond du Lac, WI a son of Lawrence and Zilda (Boom) Tavs. He graduated in 1949, from Brandon High School. On January 14, 1955, he married Marilyn Kok. She preceded him in death in 2013. In 2015, he married Donna (Cupery) VanderVelde. Wayne served in the United States Army from 1954-1956. He was a member of the Fairwater-Brandon Post 378 American Legion. Wayne served on the Rosendale-Brandon school board for 15 years. The enjoyment of his life has been serving the Lord through music. He sang for 23 years with the Revelations Quartet and recent years with the Friesland Men’s Chorus. After farming for 25 years, he retired after 13 years as a correctional officer at Fox Lake Correctional Institution. He then enjoyed driving bus for 13 years and driving tractor for Mel Gunnink. Wayne was an active member of First Reformed Church in Waupun. He previously was a long time member of Bethel Church in Brandon, serving as an elder and singing in the choir at both churches.

Wayne is survived by his wife Donna of Waupun; four children, Shelly (Les) Hiemstra of Brandon, Pam Greene of Pensacola, Florida, David (Kathy) Tavs of Lamartine and Nancy (John) Dille of Fond du Lac; 16 grandchildren, Deanna (Jack) Theyerl, Shanna (John) Peterson, Shaun (Amanda) Hiemstra, Derek (Ruth) Greene, Dana (Randy) Barr, Drew (Brit) Greene, Jamie (Greg) Dragolovich, Jackie (Bryan) Whitenack, Stephanie Tavs, Jennifer (Alan) Foster, Rebecca (Riley) Dahlke, Brooke (Paul) Atkinson, Brittney (Troy) Schommer, Bryanna (Jake) Duel, Amanda Dille, and Cortney (Jarod) Gumbleton; 33 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marlene (Dick) Holmes and Ardys (Chet) Fenner; brother, Lynn (Fern) Tavs; many brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; further survived by Donna’s three sons, Lyle ( Jane), Lynn (Caroline) and Marty (Nancy).

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Marilyn in 2013; son-in-law, Prestal Greene; sister, Marilyn Coehoorn; brothers -in-law, Howard Redeker, Henry Coehoorn, Preston Koentop and Don Janke.

Visitation for Wayne will be held from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at First Reformed Church, 422 West Franklin Street, Waupun.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30 P.M. at church with Pastor Barry Lang and Pastor John Tilstra officiating. Burial will take place at Brandon Cemetery with military honors provided by Fairwater-Brandon Post 378 honor guard.

The family has designated the Brandon Library Expansion Project , 117 East Main Street, Brandon, WI 53919; St. Agnes Hospice, 239 Trowbridge Drive, Fond du Lac, WI 54937; Gideons International, 3437 N. Richmond Street, Appleton, WI 54911, for memorial contributions.