Wayne Baltzell

Millard "Wayne" Baltzell Jr. was born in Cape Girardeau to Ruth Ann and Millard "Skeeter" Baltzell in 1972. He lived most of his life in Southern Illinois and Cape Girardeau, except for a year he lived in North Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2015.

Wayne worked nearly 15 years between Del-Farm Schnucks in Cape Girardeau and Schnucks in Carbondale, Illinois, in the video department (when they had video departments in the stores). He then began working at Cape Girardeau Walmart, working nights in lawn and garden, which he really enjoyed. During this time, he donated a kidney to his mom in 2005. That was how selfless this guy really was. Wayne would do anything for anybody, if they needed something. Even though he kept his circle small, and he was a quiet person until he got to know you, he was known by many around the area.

Wayne was an avid movie fan, catching films in the theaters with friends and family growing up and later, during and after COVID, streaming them at home. He especially loved collecting VHS and DVD movies of the 1980s. He really enjoyed that era's movies, primarily the slasher flicks and comedies. Wayne was a huge movie trivia fan and loved keeping up with the movies nominated for awards. He would follow websites that predicted their picks of the winners and, by golly, come awards times he could more than likely say who was going to win before it was announced.

Wayne also loved spending time with his friends and family before he became ill in recent years. He doted on his sisters, nieces and nephews and enjoyed spending time with his parents.

His mom and dad preceded him in death, his mom in 2010 and his dad in 2014.

Wayne is survived by his two sisters, Roxanne Baltzell McDaniel and Kelly Baltzell, both of McClure, Illinois. Roxanne is married to Morris McDaniel, and they have two children, Alexis and Joshua McDaniel. Alexis has a 2-year-old toddler son named Jaxton. Morris has a daughter, Amanda Weikein, from a previous marriage. She has three children, Makayla, Dalanie and Payton. Kelly has one son, Zachary Baltzell, who is a spitting image of Wayne, and a fiance, Al Ganzaway. Wayne loved each one of them very much and, until his health declined, loved spending quality time with them as much as he could.

He also is survived by his loving husband, Jake Wagner, whom he met in 1999 and married in Las Vegas in 2015. They had two dogs for a long time, Lizzie and Fancy, who Wayne loved. They passed away just a few years ago. Debbie Kennedy and Nicole Petitt were lifelong friends. No, more like sisters, who were always there when Wayne and Jake needed anything. The gang was always up for road trips, bingo or shenanigans of some kind. And one hell of a time did they have, let me tell you!

Wayne battled an undiagnosed gastrointestinal disease for more than a decade, which led to other organs being affected and damaged as it progressed. He battled pain and put up a strong fight for years, rarely complaining. He was the true definition of a hero.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.