In Memorium: Wayne Eugene Hancock, former resident of Antioch
Wayne Eugene Hancock
July 2, 1922 – November 24, 2016
Wayne Eugene Hancock age 94 of Wayne, NY. went to be with our Lord Jesus on November 24, 2016. Wayne was born in O’Neill, NE July 2, 1922 the son of Claud P. Hancock and Stella Florence Hancock.
He graduated high school in Tekamah, NE in 1940. Joined the Army in 1942 where he traveled to England on the Queen Mary along with 15,000 troops and 1,500 nurses. In England, Wayne was in charge of 60 men in the motorpool for the 398th Infantry Regiment of the 100th Infantry Division. Near the end of WWII, after serving at the American School Center in England, he was trained to replace infantry lost in the Battle of the Bulge but the war ended just as he was mustered for combat duty.
Honorably discharged from the Army in Dec. 1945 Wayne returned to Tekamah and married Fern Lucille Webster March 3, 1946 and they promptly moved to Albany, CA. In 1949, Wayne’s twins (Tim & Pam) were born. The following year; he graduated from the University of CA at Berkeley, and became an accountant then eventually joined Kaiser Steel Oakland in 1959. Fern died of cancer in June 1960. Wayne was introduced to Margaret E. Longnecker in 1962 and they married later that year. Margaret’s two children Barbara and Dale joined Wayne’s twins in the Hancock family when they married in 1962.
When Wayne retired from Kaiser in 1979 he and Margaret began their career as travelers.Having visited all 50 states in various trailers and campers. In 1976 they visited England, traveling on a special British Airways jet decorated in red, white and blue in honor of America’s 200th Anniversary. In 1995, they returned to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of V-E Day and to visit 8 other European countries.
Wayne was an active board member of the First Congregational Church of Antioch, CA. for many years. He was Treasurer of the Delta Chapter of the “California Striped Bass Association” and helped start “Citizens for Safe Drinking Water” and has fought for the preservation of the Delta and its inhabitants for many years.Because of Wayne’s love of fishing and children, he assisted Compy Compomizzo to form the “Annual Kids Free Fishing Derby” (Antioch, CA.) in 1987. Which is still held to this day each year.
In 2006, Wayne lost his 2nd wife Margaret to cancer. After a few years alone, he decided to move to Redding, CA to be near his son Tim. In October 2012, he moved into The Hilltop Estates Assisted living facility where he found many new and exciting friends. In August 2014, Tim died suddenly, so Pam became his caregiver. In October 2014, Pam & Dale packed Wayne’s belongings and drove him across the U.S. to New York to begin his new life with Pam and her husband Dennis. Within a few weeks, he fell and broke his hip and has been at the Homestead Nursing Home since November 2014.
Wayne was pre-deceased by his parents, Claud P. and Stella Hancock, first wife, Fern L. Hancock, son Timothy Wayne Hancock, second wife, Margaret Hancock, two sisters Grace & Helen, and three brothers, Edmund, Charles and Robert.
He is survived by his daughter, Pamela (Hancock) Carlson (Dennis) of Wayne, NY., Step-daughter Barbara Greenwood (Ronald) of Oakley, CA. and Step-son Dale Kutsch (Marianne) of Oceanside, CA., 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, his brother Marlin Hancock (Barbara) of Carson City, NV. and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
He will be returned to CA. to be buried. A memorial service will be held at the time of internment. Donations in Wayne’s name to: Penn Yan First Baptist Church 224 Main St. Penn Yan, NY 14527 or the California Striped Bass Association, West Delta Chapter P.O. Box 2691 Antioch, CA 94531.
Friends and family may share memories of Wayne at www.townsendwoodfuneralchapel.com.
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