Wayne Robert Ellerman, 87, from Dubuque, Iowa passed away peacefully on January 31, 2024 at Stonehill Care Center. Wayne was born in his beloved Dubuque on November 18,1936 to Carl and Mary Ellerman. When he was four years old, his widowed father remarried Clara, a woman he loved as his mother.

Visitation will be from 2:00pm-6:00pm Sunday, February 4, 2024 at Egelhof Siegert and Casper Funeral Home at 2659 Kennedy Road.

The mass of Christian burial for Wayne will be at 10:00 am Monday, February 5 at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque.

Wayne married Nancy Grant on July 2, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Church, Dubuque, Iowa. Wayne and Nancy went on to have 7 children.

Wayne’s love for sports, especially basketball and baseball, began at a very young age. He was six years old when he started playing at the Boys Club. Wayne started playing fast pitch at age 15 for Business Supply and went on to play for Farley Loetcher, AY McDonald, John Deere and Arenz Shoes. Wayne spent 23 years in fast pitch softball as a player, manager, and umpire.  Many of the friendships he made playing ball lasted a lifetime and he was proud to be inducted into the Dubuque Fast Pitch Hall of Fame. Wayne was also a die hard Cubs fan and life long Chicago Bears fan.

His early years revolved around playing ball and raising his large family. Great family memories were made at Potosi campgrounds in which they would pack up the baby and 6 kids and head out with the pop up camper. It was there he earned the nickname Boone, as in Daniel Boone. A true Dubuquer, his love for the river resulted in the purchase of a houseboat. In his later years, Wayne and Nancy loved to sit by the river and watch the barges go by.

Wayne worked at John Deere for 32 years until his retirement in 1992. Again, many of the friendships he developed there, lasted a lifetime. After retirement he spent decades volunteering. He volunteered for 17 years at the Tool library, was a Pallbearer for St. Vincent De Paul, worked the Bingo room at Sacred Heart, enjoyed setting up the crib set at St. Mary’s , ran the food voucher program for St. Vincent De Paul and especially enjoyed working the kids room at Sacred Heart fall festival. Pops, as he was affectionately called by family was one of a kind. It has always been said that he never met a stranger. His humor and quick wit immediately drew people to him. His love for his family, especially his wife Nancy, was unwavering. He was a man of MANY nicknames: Weep, Wimp, Wimper, Weeper, Boone and Angel to name a few. No matter what you called him, he was always willing to help anyone at any time. He treated those he met as if they were his own.

Wayne is proceeded in death by his parents, Carl, Clara and Mary Ellerman, brothers Jim and Norman, sister Lois, daughter Diane, and son, Kenny.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 68 years, Nancy, children, Peg (Mike Fox), Connie (Scott) Birkett, Dan Ellerman, Bob Ellerman, and Carla Ellerman. He is also survived by 10 grand children, 20 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.

He is also survived by sisters, Pat (Jim) Abitz, Karen (Bob) Scheitzach, Kathy Tator, Chris Tigges, and Mary Beth. Brothers: John (Sandi) Ellerman and Dave (Diane) Ellerman.

The family would like to send our sincerest gratitude to Stonehill Care Center for their compassionate care and to Oak Park Place of which he also considered family.