Wayne N. "Buck" Meyer, 85, of Tuscola, IL, passed away surrounded by his loving family at 3:54 p.m., Monday, October 24, 2016 at the Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana, IL

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Forty Martyrs Catholic Church, 201 East Van Allen Street, Tuscola, IL, with Father Angel Sierra as celebrant. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 28, 2016 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL. Burial will be in the Tuscola Township Cemetery with military graveside rites accorded.

Wayne was born on January 16, 1931 in Tuscola, IL, the son of Everett W. and Florentine R. Cler Meyer. He married Margaret L. Utterback on August 21, 1954 in Tuscola, IL. She preceded him in death on October 22, 2014.

Survivors include his six children: Mike (Connie) Meyer of Tuscola, Jean Kahn of Peoria, Jim Meyer, Anna (Kent) McGillen, Dan (Dena) Meyer and Jaci Manzella all of Tuscola, twelve grandchildren: Lauren Meyer, Clayton Meyer, Natalie Kahn, Kellie Kahn, Kate Blahnik, Jennifer Meyer, Christina Meyer, Whitney (Brady) Fennel, David Meyer, Philip Meyer, Maria Meyer and Lidia Manzella and one great-grandson: Liam Fennel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Everett Jr., Clarence and Tom Meyer, sister: Wanda Helm. His grandson, Andy McGillen had preceded him exactly 10 years prior.

Wayne graduated from 8 ^th grade in 1945 from the Phinney (1 room) Grade School. He was a 1949 graduate of Tuscola Community High School, where he was Homecoming King, Football MVP and honorable mention All-State fullback his senior year (1948) which was an undefeated team. He is the school record holder for the 200-yard low hurdles, (state finalist) and he and his classmates helped win conference championships in football, basketball and track their senior year. In 2010, Wayne was honored as an inductee into the Tuscola High School Hall of Fame for contributions made to the Agriculture sector.

He graduated from The University of Illinois with high honors in1953 with a B.S. Degree in Agronomy where he lettered in wrestling with the 1952-53 team. In 1953 Wayne was commissioned 2 ^nd Lieutenant USAF after 4 years on Air Force ROTC at the U of I. From 1954 to 1956 he served active duty during the Korean Conflict as an Air Police Security Officer stationed at England Air Force Base, Alexandria, Louisiana, earning the rank of 1 ^st Lieutenant. Wayne was in the Air Force Reserve Recovery Squad, Security Officer in Decatur, IL from 1963-1965, earning the rank of Captain. In 1956 he and Margaret made the decision to return to Douglas County to raise their growing family and farm for forty years until retirement in 1996.

Wayne was a member of the Douglas County Soil and Water Conversation District for 17 years, serving as chairman for 9 years. While on the Soil and Water Conservation District, he along with other directors defeated the Scattering Fork PL566 Project. He testified before a congressional hearing committee twice in Washington, DC against the proposed Lincoln Reservoir on the Embarras River which would have had detrimental effects on drainage in Douglas County. The Reservoir project was finally de-authorized after 10 years of battle waged by many farm organizations in the city of Tuscola and Douglas County. In 1977 Wayne was honored that his family was named the Illinois Conservation Farm Family of the Year. He served on the Douglas County Extension Service, served one term on the Douglas County Board, was a member of Forty Martyrs Catholic Church, served as Commander of Tuscola American Legion Post #27 and the Douglas County Farm Bureau. Wayne served as Director of District #12 Illinois Corn Marketing Board for 8 years holding various offices as well as attended the U.S. Feed Grain Council conventions. These offices took him to Russia, Hungary, and Austria on a good will mission to exchange and share ideas for crop production and exportation. Later, Wayne was handpicked to serve as an Ag advisor to the late Congressman Tom Ewing from Pontiac, IL.

Wayne was an agronomist by heart and loved to grow things especially in the soil of central Illinois. He also had a love for animals which seemed to migrate to him naturally. He was a die-hard Tuscola Warrior and Fighting Illini fan. He and Margaret had a split opinion when it came to baseball. He was a Cub fan and she liked the Cardinals.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tuscola Community High School FFA or the Tuscola American Legion Post #27.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at hilligossshraderfh.com