Wayne Allen Kichenmaster died at Renown Hospital in Reno on April 28, 2025, following a brief illness. He was born on his grandfather’s farm near Seymour, Wisconsin on August 28, 1940, to the late Gerald and Lois Kichenmaster. In 1946 his family moved to Hawthorne, Nevada, where after a short return to Wisconsin, they took up permanent residence.
Wayne was a 1958 graduate of Mineral County High School, although he spent a few months of his junior year working at a ranch in Yerington where he also drove the school bus at the age of 17. His interests during his youth included horseback riding, hunting, and fishing. He was a bareback bronco rider at the State High School Rodeo in Elko, Nevada.
Wayne served in the U.S. Air Force from February 1959 until October 1979. He was initially assigned to Lackland AFB and attended technical school at Goodfellow AFB. During his military career in the intelligence field, he had overseas assignments in Okinawa, Germany, the Aleutian Islands, and Vietnam, with temporary duty in Guam, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii. He also served at Fort Meade in Maryland, where he met his future wife Beverly in 1966.
Upon retiring from the Air Force, Wayne returned to Hawthorne and worked first for Stovall as a security guard at the base, and later with Day Zimmerman as a computer operator and self-taught programmer. He developed preventive care computer programs for Day Zimmerman’s vehicles, a lightning protection system, and various other equipment programs. In 1989 he transferred to the Naval Undersea Warfare Detachment, again developing a number of programs.
Wayne’s personal interests included archery hunting, fishing, bowling, RV camping, and golf. In later years he enjoyed bike riding and reading, which led him to personal correspondence with his favorite author. He was a handy-man, spending much time in his home shop doing carpentry and countless projects. Wayne was a member of the local VFW, the American Legion, and Mineral County Search & Rescue, but his most active role was with the BPOE Elks, serving as their Exalted Ruler for three separate terms. He was a major supporter of the Elks National Foundation.
Wayne was preceded in death by his daughter Susan in 1988. He leaves his wife Beverly, with whom he shared almost 59 years of marriage. Also brothers Marlin Kichenmaster and wife Patty, Tom Kichenmaster and wife Carol, and his children David Kichenmaster and wife Kelley, Karen Pinkerton and husband Anthony, and “adopted” son John Pegnam and wife Wendy. He also leaves grandchildren Aurora Capps and Wyatt Pinkerton, step-grandchildren Colton Capps, Cassie Macias –Hicks, Frankie Hicks, Randi Hicks, and great-grandchildren Raedyn and Jaxon Hicks. Also several nieces and nephews.
Service for Wayne will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church on C Street in Hawthorne on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 11:00 am, followed by a military burial at the Hawthorne cemetery.
