Wayne Koontz Obituary

Wayne John Koontz

April 11, 1944 - January 23, 2026

Wayne John Koontz, 81, recently of North Las Vegas, NV found peace on Friday January 23, 2026, after battling congestive heart failure.

Wayne was born on April 11, 1944 to John and Helen Koontz (Gill) in Racine, WI. He attended schools in Racine before graduating from Washington Park High School in 1962. After high school, Wayne joined the United States Air Force and completed his basic training in San Antonio, TX. He was stationed at the Karamursel Air Station in Turkey as a radio intercept analyst where he obtained the rank of E4. Later, he served at the headquarters of the USAFSS in San Antonio. After he completed his duties, he returned to his home in Racine, WI. He then went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. Wayne was employed for 30 years at RBP Chemical in West Allis, WI.

In December 1970, Wayne met Barbara Houte at a dance in Kenosha. On September 23, 1972, they married. They enjoyed dancing and playing bridge for almost 25 years before her death on April 1, 1997. Together, they had one daughter, Elizabeth Ann (Beth).

In 2000, Wayne met and married Irene Vidis after a whirlwind romance. They often joked about how easy it was to remember how many years they had been married since they were married in 2000. They enjoyed ten years together in Wisconsin, before retiring to North Las Vegas, NV in 2009, where they enjoyed the warmer weather. Wayne and Irene enjoyed dancing, going to the casino, and playing cards with their "Y" friends.

Wayne enjoyed reading and woodworking. He could fix almost anything. He was an avid consumer of news. He would read the newspaper every morning and watch the national and local news every evening. Wayne will be remembered for his passionate conversations about news in general, and politics in particular.

Leaving behind to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 25 years, Irene, his daughter Beth (Mark) Lemcke, his grandchildren Lily and John (Jack) Lemcke, his sister Diane Ballew, his stepdaughters Rebecca (Scott) Christoffersen and Valerie (Jeffery) Towery, his stepson David Vidis, his other grandchildren Alexis, Minna, Leilu, Dakota, Kirsten, Brandy, Heather, and William, six great-grandchildren, and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen (Bill), Pat, Jerry (Ginger), Robert (Judy) Houte, Raymond (Deborah) Houte, and Mary Blaesius. Wayne left behind many nieces and nephews Karin Zoril, Lorraine (Williams) Carpenter, Wesley Putzer, James (Rosie Ballew), Steven (Lisa) Houte, Susan Houte, Janette Houte, Andrew (Kristen) Houte, Sarah (Michael) Ziebell, Renee (Chance) Gafford, Megan (Tony) Ellefson, and Michael (Karolyn) Houte. In addition, he leaves behind many, many great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, and special cousins Janet Gill Hernandez, Ruth Kane, and Rose (Robert) Nyholm. Wayne was very proud of the close-knit family in which he was raised and that will continue on without him.

Wayne was proceeded in death by his first wife, Barbara, his parents John and Helen Koontz, his brothers Kenneth and Mickey Putzer, his sister-in-law, Signa Putzer, his nephews Richard Putzer and David Ballew; his brother-in-law, James Blaesius; his stepson Daniel Vidis, and his special uncles and aunt Bernard Gill, Samuel Gill, and Iola Gill.

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 for a visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A service celebrating his life will follow at 7:00 p.m. A private interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Racine. In lieu of flowers, please considering donating to your favorite charity.

DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY

4600 COUNTY LINE ROAD MOUNT PLEASANT, WI 53403 262-552-9000

WWW.DRAEGER-LANGENDORF.COM