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Wayne Herman Nierman PhD
Born: 4/17/1937
Died: 5/7/2024
Age: 87
Community: Flint, MI
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NIERMAN, Wayne Herman PhD - Of Flint, age 87, died Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Gross Assisted Living.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint.
Visitation 10 a.m. Monday until the time of the service at the funeral home.
Cremation has taken place.
Inurnment will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery.
Born April 17, 1937, in Union Township, Indiana, to Joshua and Alta Nierman, Wayne H. Nierman of Flint Township, Michigan passed on May 7, 2024. He survived {40 yrs.) a rare Cancer thanks to the University of Michigan and M.D. Anderson research but lost the last battle to Alzheimer's. His childhood was the family Dairy farm with Sister Marie and brothers Earl, Ross, and Dale. He never forgot the death (tractor accident) of his mother on his tenth birthday. Later the family grew to ten siblings with a remarriage. He was a member of the Dunfee Christian Missionary Alliance Church. Wayne graduated from Coesse High School as President and Salutatorian of his class. He played basketball, was a 4-H member and played Trombone in the band.
He graduated from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Education. After student teaching, he decided Adult and Continuing education was his calling. At Purdue he-served as President of Collegiate 4-H, was a member of Farm House Fraternity and played Trombone in the Purdue ROTC Band. To earn extra dollars for college he drove a gravel truck in the summers and later worked for Purdue University Extension as a summer 4-H Agent in Wells County, Indiana. Wayne met his wife, Linda, during the summer, as she was a summer agent in Adams County, Indiana. They were training teen 4-H Junior Leaders to be 4-H Camp Counselors.
After graduation from Purdue Wayne was selected to be an International Farm Youth Exchange Delegate (IFYE) to Brazil. He had to learn Portuguese fast to live and work with various families in Brazil for six months. This grassroots international experience framed his major belief that many of the world's problems could be solved if we understood each other... Peace Through Understanding.... A Song of Peace.
Wayne joined the National 4-H Council International Program staff in 1960 as International Program Leader placing and training IFYE delegates to live with host families around the world. In exchange IFYE delegates from these host countries would send delegates to live with host families in the USA for six months. The first Peace Core training was ongoing with the International Program staff also at this time. Wayne was put on active duty with the Air National Guard 113th Tac Ftr Wg TAC out of Andrews Air Force base for the Berlin crisis and other threats while in Washington. Originally he was with the Indiana National Guard.
Later he joined Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon, as Community Service Coordinator with the Lane County Youth Project and became Extension Community Development Agent with the Small Towns and Cities Project for Oregon. These projects originated out of the first White House initiative on children and youth.
His fellowship with the Mott Foundation brought them to. Flint 0 Michigan to pursue an advanced degree in Inter-University Clinical Preparation with a focus on Community Education with local schools as Community Leadership Centers. He obtained a Master's Degree from Eastern Michigan University (1968) in Community School Leadership. His first day at Eastern he visited with his former High School principal now President of Eastern. The University of Michigan presented his Doctoral Degree (1982) with his dissertation focused! on "lobbying" Congress.
Wayne was Director of Development for the T Wendell Williams Community Education Center/School in Flint utilizing a HUD Development grant for its conception and development. At the completion of the project, he joined the Michigan Department of Education as an Evaluation Specialist/Analyst for Community Education.
His last employment was with Michigan State University College of Agriculture as Director of Oakland County Extension (25 yrs) Pontiac, Michigan. Wayne was awarded the MSU Distinguished Alumni honor in 2017 for his service to MSU and Oakland County. He completed the WK Kellogg Foundation Internship at the National 4-H Council and a Public Affairs Internship with USDA Extension Service. He was also recognized. for his involvement with the SE Michigan Watershed.
With Oakland County Farm Bureau, he has participated in Project Red, the Oakland County 4-H Fair, and the Michigan State Fair. He has · served as an Election Inspector and a member of the Road Advisory Committee for Flint Township. Wayne· enjoyed sailing with friends for relaxation. He also liked golf for its camaraderie, and dancing the twist, (Good exercise). He watched College Sports especially Purdue, MSU, and UM. He loved Orchids and Gardenias, growing Roses, the peacefulness of water, trips to Florida, the pet poodles, teaching "kids" how to drive, the Theatre, puzzles, and playing cards. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and the Eugene, Oregon, Elks Club.
Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Linda; his sister Marie (Young) Elkhart Ind., brothers: Ross (Emma Lou) Maricopa, Az., and Dale, Columbia City, Ind. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Joshua & Alta (Fairchild) Nierman; Stepmothers Helen, Iva Mae, Bessie, and brother Earl (Carol Lee) Nierman.
We are most grateful for the multitude of friends that we have met over the years that still keep in touch. Friendships are not about whom we have known the longest, but who never left our side over the years, that care deeply, give freely, think kindly and act gently.
Best of all…They keep in touch!
Donations in honor of Wayne made be made to the following:
Charity of choice: Oakland County Fair, P O Box 365, Davisburg, MI., 48350; Indiana 4-H Foundation/Purdue University, PO Box 3125, Indianapolis, IN 46206;
IFYE Association of the USA,% A. Scherer, PO Box 452, Bluffton, Indiana 46714-0052; University of Michigan Cancer Center, 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6815.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com |
Copyright © 2024 Direct Obits, LLC
| Visitation |
| Date: |
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5/20/2024 |
| Time: |
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10:00 AM |
| Visitation 10 a.m. Monday until the time of the service at the funeral home. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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5/20/2024 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
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| Location: |
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Swartz Funeral Home & Cremation Center
1225 West Hill Road
Flint, MI 48507Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Rev. Brian Nierman |
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