Wayne L. Cave, 99, of Cherokee passed away on Tuesday evening, Sept. 29, 2026, at Accura Healthcare.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Alan Cummins will officiate. Burial will be in Afton Township Cemetery at rural Cherokee. Military rites will be performed by the Cherokee American Legion and L.A. Wescott Post #2253. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. until service time on Saturday morning at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Wayne was born on June 27, 1927, to Purl and Bernice (Stone) Cave at their farm in Cherokee. He graduated from Wilson High School and enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for two years in Korea.
He was united in marriage on June 12, 1955, to Marlene Schoeneman at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Spencer. Wayne worked at J.C. Penney’s and theatres. He also worked for 33 years at the Cherokee State Mental Health Institute in the maintenance department.
He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee.
Wayne and Marlene wintered in Apache Junction, Ariz., for many years and he worked in maintenance in the trailer park.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Marlene; and son Alan Cave.
He is survived by his nieces and nephew: Paula Burch of Cherokee; Peggy Rebhuhn of Sutherland; and Loren Cave of San Rafael, Calif.; also several cousins and many friends.
