LURAY – Wayne James Brozek, age 90, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in Washington County, Texas.
Born January 12, 1936 in Lucas, Kansas. He was the fifth born of seven children to James A. and Agnes (Rezabek) Brozek of Lucas. He attended school in Lucas, Kansas, graduating in 1953 from Lucas High School. He enjoyed a short career playing professional baseball as a pitcher for the Iola Indians.
On December 11, 1955 he married Shirley Heffel in Dorrance. Afterwards he began working at the Mack-Welling Lumber Company in Lucas. He became the manager of the Luray, Kansas yard in 1958 at the age of 23, later transferring to the Russell yard in 1973 until it was closed in 1989.
In 1990 he and Shirley relocated to Livingston, Montana where he was hired as the manager of Aldrich Lumber and worked there until he retired from the lumber business in 1998. He then managed the 5,000-acre Starwind Ranch in Livingston, owned by heirs of the Exxon-Mobil Oil Company. The ranch focused on horses and show dogs but also has a few head of cattle. Wayne retired in December 2009.
Wayne was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed playing golf. He enjoyed trapping, fishing and hunting elk, deer, antelope, ducks, pheasants and quail for many years. He enjoyed listening to country and Czech polka music.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 70 years, Shirley of the home. Sons, Wayde (Sonya) Brozek of Wamego and Kerry (Nikki) Brozek of Burton, Texas. Grandchildren include Ashley (Gary) Blundon, Corey (Victoria Kipp) Brozek, Collin (Nicole Lipson) Brozek, Aaron Brozek and Dillon (Megan) Brozek, and 6 great-grandchildren, Alayna Brewer, Blayke Butler, Clayton Dinkel, Kayleigh Blundon, Kaleb Brozek and Jennson Brozek. He is also survived by two brothers, Wendell and Eldon Brozek.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, James A. and Agnes Brozek, sisters, Wilma Rounkles, Lillian Edwardson, Amelia Ehly, and Weldon Brozek.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, July 10, 2026 at Faith Lutheran Church in Osborne, Kansas where he was a charter member. Burial will follow at the Luray Cemetery in Luray, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 7 P.M. on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the Luray Community Center with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. at the community center. The family requests memorials be given to your favorite charity. Rentscheler Family Mortuaries of Osborne, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.