Wayne K. Huber, 78, of Temple, Texas, formerly of Tuscola, Newman, Broadlands and Champaign, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held Friday, December 28, from 5-7 p.m. at Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Tony Crouch will officiate. There will be no burial; rights of cremation were accorded in Texas.

Wayne was born in Tuscola, Illinois, on July 25, 1940, the son of Kenneth and Agatha (Schempf) Huber. He graduated from Tuscola High School in 1958. After working for his brother-in-law at Dietrich Electric for two years, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Strategic Air Command as a Fuel Systems Mechanic from 1960-1964, based mostly in Moses Lake, Washington.

Wayne married Nancy Vandeveer in Arcola, Illinois, in 1966; they later divorced. He married Gayle Small on October 1, 1979, in Newport, Indiana. She survives. Also surviving are son, Doug (Deanna) Huber of Ivesdale, Illinois; daughter Stacey (Wayne) Penny of Tuscola, Illinois; daughter Jodi (Keith) Baxter of Newman, Illinois; daughter Jana Huber (Rick Linton) of Paducah, Kentucky; sister Jeanine Dietrich of Tuscola; granddaughters Cristin Huber (Ryan Taylor) of Bolingbrook, Illinois, and Stephanie Deem of Newman; grandsons Justin Barr of Newman, Jerad Barr (Cassie Leisner) of Palm Bay, Florida, Jacob Barr of Tuscola and Cory Wells of Champaign, as well as several nieces and nephews. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, sister Peggy Crossman, nephew David Dietrich and a pre-term baby boy.

Wayne held various jobs when he returned from the Air Force, including working at Cabot Corporation in Tuscola and in the trucking industry. He was a police officer for the City of Tuscola from 1976-1979 and Chief of Police for the City of Newman from 1979-1989. He retired from HydroMet Environmental in Newman in 2002. During his retirement years, Wayne worked for the Heritage School District as a part-time custodian and caretaker of the high school softball diamond. He was an usher in the Colonnades Club at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium for football games for eight years. He also worked part time at Health Alliance Medical Plans, Urbana, Illinois.

Wayne enjoyed playing in the Golden Gloves (55+) men's softball league of the Champaign Park District for many years. He enjoyed all sports but was especially a fan of softball and football. Wayne was a member of Vista Community Church, Temple, Texas, and a former member of First Christian Church, Champaign, Illinois, and Oakland Christian Church, Oakland, Illinois. Wayne and Gayle moved to Temple, Texas, in April 2016 and embraced the area as their new home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the David Dietrich Scholarship Fund, c/o Tuscola High School, 500 South Prairie Street, Tuscola, Illinois, 61953.

Online condolences may be shared via www.hilligossshraderfh.com