Wayne Lester Mathistad

Wayne Lester Mathistad, 87, of rural Saint James, died on April 4, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Saint James.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James and will continue on Friday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Saint James. Funeral service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Saint James, on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 11:00 am. Interment will be at the Saint Olaf Church Cemetery in rural Odin, Minnesota.

Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Wayne was born May 27, 1937, to Palmer and Marjorie (Bever) Mathistad in Odin, Minnesota. He graduated from Butterfield High School in 1956. On December 14, 1956, he married Marjean  Heffele. Marjean died in 1984. On February 22, 1986, Wayne married Vonnie Lofgren at the First Presbyterian Church in Saint James.

Wayne began working for the lumber yard in Ormsby in 1957, becoming the manager in 1967. In 1971, he purchased and became the owner of the Butterfield Building Supply in Butterfield. Following his marriage to Vonnie in 1986, he took up farming until his retirement in 2003.

In his free time, Wayne enjoyed camping, reading, woodworking, snowmobiling,  mowing his lawn, driving his convertible around town, and especially flying his plane.  He was also known for telling many jokes, kidding with others, talking about WWII air planes, and conversations with anyone.  He enjoyed teaching the grand kids many skills and departing his wisdom onto others.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Vonnie; daughter-in-law, Barb (Mark) Warner of Butterfield; step-children, Linda (John) Senden of Spearfish, South Dakota, Mark Lofgren of Saint James, and Jeff (Jenna) Lofgren of Maple Grove, Minnesota; grandchildren, Nick (Jennifer) Mathistad, Nathan (Cally) Mathistad, Nadeen (Jeff) Durheim; step-grandchildren, Lindsay Senden, Luke (Nicole) Senden, Kelsey (Matt) Harsch, Whitney (Christian) Schwab, Melissa (Brad) Sanders, Megan Oxford, Nathan (Sarah) Lofgren, Jacob, and Julia Lofgren; 8 great-grandchildren; 15 step great-grandchildren; sister, Judy Gedicke; brother, Larry (Denise) Mathistad; and foster daughter, Teresa (Tim) Colgan and their children and grandchildren.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Marjean; children, Kevin, Keith, Kim, and Joan; step-great granddaughter, Faith Joyce Senden; sisters, Doris Brude and Jean Doyle; and brothers-in-law, Ronald Gedicke and Dan Doyle.