Wayne Davy

Wayne Richard Davy, 101, of rural Ashland, formerly of Columbus, Nebraska, died Saturday, April 11, 2026, at home while in the care of his daughter, Kathleen Sliva.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 25, at 10:00 AM at the Columbus Berean Church with Rev. Will Sanborn officiating. Interment will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00–7:00 PM on Friday at Gass Haney Funeral Home and will continue Saturday from 9:00 AM until service time at the church. Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Hartman Post 84. Memorials may be directed to the family. The funeral service will be broadcast live on the Columbus Berean Church YouTube Channel

Wayne was born to Glenn and Mary Davy on March 19, 1925, at the family farm in Boyd County, near Lynch, Nebraska. He began school at age six at the Alford School southwest of Monowi. His family moved to a farm west of White River, South Dakota, before returning to Boyd County and Sunshine Bottom on the Missouri River in 1934. The family continued to live there after his mother’s death in 1935. He attended grade school at District 26 and at Lynch. Due to an extended bout with pneumonia during the 6th and 7th grades, Wayne resided with his grandparents, Jess and Bess Davy, on the outskirts of Lynch. He graduated from Lynch High School in 1942.

Following graduation, Wayne enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving with the First Marine Air Wing at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides during World War II. Arriving as a Corporal at Wing Headquarters, he was assigned to loading and unloading ships—the logistical lifeline for Marine Aviation in the South Pacific. Wayne was promoted to Technical Sergeant before returning to the States in 1944 and was honorably discharged on November 8, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee.

He was recalled to the Marines during the Korean War, where he participated in the reactivation of the Third Marine Division. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant before his final discharge on April 25, 1952.

In 1950, Wayne earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He met his future wife, Shirley Ileen Sanderson, on a blind date in 1949. They were married on April 15, 1950, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Marquette, Nebraska.

The couple first moved to Wichita, Kansas, where Wayne worked for Boeing and they celebrated the birth of their first child, Kent. Over the following years, work took them back to Nebraska (where Kyle was born), Kansas (where Keith was born), and Colorado (where Kathleen was born). In 1962, the family settled in Columbus, where Wayne owned and managed Henke Machine and Manufacturing Company. Having sold the company to Bozell and Jacobs Advertising Agency, he remained as the company president until his retirement in 1984.

Wayne and Shirley traveled extensively to Europe, Israel, and the Far East, and took numerous cross-country trips to visit their grandchildren. They were active in their faith as founding members of the Columbus Berean Church and volunteered with JAARS aviation ministry and Wycliffe Bible Translators.

In the community, Wayne was active in Lions International and served as Chairman of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) for eight years. He also served on the Columbus Civil Service Board. As a life-long learner, he was an avid reader, pursued graduate studies in Archaeology at UNL, conducted genealogical research, collected rocks, and managed his stock portfolio. Throughout his life he enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting and other outdoor activities. He enjoyed friendly competition, playing games (including some he created) with family and friends. Other favorites included tennis, pitch, and bridge. He was a keen Scrabble player who, in fitting style, defeated family members by over 40 points in his final game during his 101st birthday week.

Wayne is survived by his children: Kent Davy of Carlsbad, CA; Kyle (Karen Yencich) Davy of Berkeley, CA; Keith (Nanci) Davy of Orlando, FL; and Kathleen (Richard) Sliva of Ashland, NE. He leaves behind 11 grandchildren (Amy Jennings, Sarah Springer, Nathan Davy, Susanna Davy, Jesse Davy, Glenn Davy, Anna Luddeke, Taylor Sliva, Daniel Davy, Amanda Sliva, and Kate Sliva); 19 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; and many other treasured family members and friends.

Wayne was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley; his parents; two brothers (Alford and Roger); and daughter-in-law, Joel Davy.