Robert “Wayne” Sutherland, 73, of Hiawatha, was born August 8, 1950 in the Horton Hospital in Horton, Kansas, one of six children born to Orville and June Gardiner Sutherland. He died July 2, 2024, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, MO.
Wayne was how he was known to family and friends, lived in Everest, Kansas until 1959 when the family moved to Highland, Kansas. Wayne graduated from Highland High School with the class of 1968. He worked for his father in the newspaper/print shop and attended Highland Junior Community College for a year.
Wayne went on active duty in the Navy in 1969 and served on a supply ship (USS Niagara Falls) supplying the ships stationed in Vietnam with food and ammunition to Cam Ran Vietnam.
His greatest memory was when he was on watch and saw something in the ocean. His commander told him to keep an eye on it. The item turned out to be a distressed boat. They were able to save 3 people that have been missing for a month.
Wayne attended area Vo Tech in Atchison for offset printing where he graduated and continued to work in the printing business.
He married Susan Ernst in 1975. He graduated from Pitt State in 1978 with a degree in Vo Tec Education. He and his wife moved to Kansas City where he continued working in various print shops. He bought and ran an offset printing company for several years before coming back to NE Kansas to take over some printing operations from his father prior to working and retiring from the Green Acres/St. Joseph Newspress.
Wayne loved the KC Royals and no matter what their record was. He spent his retirement spinning records and listing them on EBay.
He is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Renee (Mike), sister DeeAnn, brothers: Mark Sutherland, Jim Sutherland, grandson Rayson (Katie) Johnson, granddaughter Sadie Roberson, with many nieces, nephews and great-grandkids. Also surviving is a sister-in-law Vicki Sutherland.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alan Sutherland and Glenn Sutherland.
Cremation is planned Celebration of Wayne’s life at 1:30 p.m. July 14, 2024 at the Carwell Building at the Brown County Ag Museum and Windmill Lane on East Iowa Street, Hiawatha. To honor Wayne’s love for the Royals, please wear Royals attire or colors.
