Wayne Alfred Larson, 83, went home to Heaven on Sunday, May 29, 2016, with his family by his side. Wayne was born to Alfred & Lulu Larson on November 9, 1932 in Portland, Oregon and was raised with his younger brother, Bruce. Wayne talked often about the time he and Bruce delivered newspapers as young boys. He also learned to tap dance as a child. Wayne captured the heart of Joann Eaton while attending NNC in Nampa, Idaho, and when they married in 1954, they moved to the Medford, Oregon area where they raised their three children: Don, Diane and Rob. Wayne worked at a lumber mill until his father incorporated Wayne and Bruce into his appliance and repair business. Joann worked as secretary to the pastor at Medford First Church of the Nazarene. Wayne was known as "The Whistler", and whistled wherever he went. If you wanted to find him, you could just stop and listen, and you would know where he was. In 1965 they travelled to Swaziland, Africa, to visit friends, Ken and Anne Stark, and on their way home they felt the call of God on their lives to become full-time missionaries. They returned to Swaziland with their children in 1969 where Wayne served as the hospital administrator, and Joann served as the hospital and field treasurer until 1977. From 1977 to 1979 they operated a home for missionary children who attended school in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. In 1979 they were transferred by the Nazarene Church to Kudjip, Papua New Guinea where Wayne again served as hospital administrator, and Joann served as hospital accountant until they retired from missionary work in 1990. They moved to Nampa in 1997 to become Postmasters at Northwest Nazarene University and worked there until they officially retired. Wayne and Joann touched many lives, in many ways, in many countries. They enjoyed visiting many of the Nazarene churches around their mission field, often bringing gifts of food and clothing to pastors who could not afford much. They planned special "Pastor Christmases" where they had many people stateside prepare gifts for the pastors and their families, and then had everything shipped over to them to distribute. Sometimes this was a year-long process. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 NIV Their greatest legacy is that they have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who love the Lord and are following in His footsteps. So...this is not "goodbye", but rather "See you later", as we look forward to reuniting in Heaven someday. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 3 at the First Church of the Nazarene, 601 16th Ave. South in Nampa. A graveside service will be held prior to the memorial Friday, at 10:00 a.m. at Morris Hill Cemetery, 317 Latah St in Boise. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300. Condolences may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com Service: Friday, June 3, 2016 2:00 p.m. First Church of the Nazarene 601 16th Avenue South Nampa, Idaho
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