Funeral services for Wayne Ahlers, 91, of O'Neill will be at 10:30 am on Friday, July 3, 2020 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Naper, NE with Pastor Paul Hirsch officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Naper, NE. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Thursday, July 2, 2020 at Biglins Mortuary in O'Neill, NE. Wayne passed away on Wednesday, June 24 at Parkside Manor in Stuart, NE. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.

Wayne Norman Ahlers was born on October 15, 1928 on a farm in Gregory County, South Dakota to August and Anna (Seevers) Ahlers. The family later moved to a farm near Naper, Nebraska where he attended District 70 country school. Wayne attended 9th grade at Naper High School before moving with his family to Gibbon, Minnesota. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith while in Gibbon. In 1946, Wayne and his parents moved back to the Naper area.

In 1952, Wayne took Virginia Schonebaum to a Christmas dance in Butte. After two years of dating, the couple was married on December 26, 1954 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Naper. The couple made their home on Wayne's grandfather's farm and raised their six children; Steven, Marion, Richard, Carol, Daniel, and Lisa. Harvest was always a special time of year for Wayne. The couple retired and moved to O'Neill in 1993, but he still enjoyed helping his son on the farm whenever he could.

Wayne was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Naper where he served as an elder, sang in the choir for many years, and helped build the present-day church. After moving to O'Neill, the couple joined Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in O'Neill. His faith, family, and farming were his life.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 65 years, Virginia Ahlers of O'Neill; six children, Steven (Patti) Ahlers of Bettendorf, Iowa, Marion (Ed) Ortmeier of Norfolk, Richard (Jana) Ahlers of Chappell Hill, Texas, Carol (Randy) Roth of Conroe, Texas, Daniel (Tara) Ahlers of Naper, Lisa (Casey) Reiman of Butte; 23 grandchildren, Tim Ahlers, Ryan (Lynn) Ahlers, Laura (Nick) Peitz, Nick (Sarah) Ortmeier, Greg (Anne) Ortmeier, Annie (Craig) Ecabert, Suzi (Mike) Haugly, Michael John (Michal Lea) DeChellis, Matthew (Anna Maria) DeChellis, Maria Senftleber, Crystal Kimbrough, Lance (Julie) Roth, Katelyn (Tom) Helberg, Sarah Roth, Luke Roth, Cynthia Titus, Jason Titus, Logan Titus, Macy Ahlers, Blake Ahlers, Brooke (Tad) Kruger, Dylan (Laura) Reiman, Evan Reiman; 22 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dottie Ahlers of Pierce; many nieces and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; and four siblings, Laurence (Gladys) Ahlers, Walter (Betty) Ahlers, Linda (Roger) Lunderborg, Arlen Ahlers.