Wayne S. Bouwens

Wayne S. Bouwens, 85, passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2014, surrounded by family. He was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the ninth child of William and Lulubelle Bouwens. Wayne came to Palmer in 1935 with his family as part of the Colony project. He grew up here and graduated from Palmer Central School in 1949. Wayne worked for the Alaska Railroad and in the coal mines in Sutton until he purchased his own farm first on Hemmer Road, then on Fishhook Road in 1964. He built a successful dairy operation there and later worked in the dairy at the University Experimental Farm until his retirement in 1996.

Wayne enjoyed history and community service and over the years was a member of the Elks, ACCA, President of Palmer Cemetery Association and member of the Palmer Historical Society. He was instrumental in the fundraising for Alaska Far Away, a documentary about the Matanuska Colony Project.

He also loved to share his passion for the history of the area by speaking in classrooms at local schools. Wayne was a friend to all and well known in the community. In his retirement he loved sharing his extensive knowledge of the old times in Alaska with people through volunteering in the Colony House Museum in Palmer and selling historical society books at the fair and local events.

Wayne and his wife, Margrye, raised seven children in Palmer. He will be greatly missed by his children, Nanette Arneson (Merwin), Thomas Bouwens (Linda), Roger Bouwens (Julie), Mary Beth Lutrick (Donald), Katy Bethune (Michael), Kenneth Bouwens (Mary Beth); 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher, and grandchildren Jennifer Arneson and Andrew Bouwens. He spent his final days at home surrounded by this large and loving family, bouncing babies on his lap till the end.

A memorial mass is at 4 p.m., Oct. 20 at St Michael’s Catholic Church, with a reception to follow. The public is invited to attend, please bring a finger food dish to share. Wayne’s ashes will be interred immediately after the service at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Palmer Historical Society.