Wayne E. Vangraefschepe, 67, life resident of the New Raymer & Fort Morgan communities, passed away Thursday, July 8, 2021, at the Valley View Villa Care Center.  He was born August 7, 1953, to Ervin  & Doris (Box) Vangraefschepe.

Following graduation from Prairie High School in 1971, Wayne was elected and served as the state president of the Colorado FFA Association in 1972.  In his FFA career, Wayne served as a chapter officer and was awarded the State Star Farmer Proficiency Award in Crop Production his senior year.  In his last days of eligibility as an FFA member, he was awarded the coveted American Farmer Degree at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City and was recognized as the Pacific Region Star Farmer of America.  After his time serving as FFA state president, he attended Northeastern Junior College receiving his degree in Agricultural Mechanics and then attended Colorado State University for a short time.  His participation in FFA and the agricultural education program was the key to his desire to continue to maintain a place in the roller-coaster business of family farming.  He became involved in farming fulltime with his Dad, forming a family-farm corporation, Vangraefschepe Farms Inc, in 1974 growing dryland wheat, sunflowers, and safflower. They were the first in the area in raising sunflowers.  They then added Centennial Grain and Seed Inc. later purchasing and renovating the country elevators in New Raymer to form a bird seed business to expand marketing possibilities for farmers growing grain crops in the area.

He was very active in the community in the New Raymer Lions Club.  When the Club disbanded in 1993, Wayne was instrumental in starting the New Raymer/Prairie Lions Club, serving as president as the new club was chartered in 1997.  He was involved in getting the New Raymer Community Center remodeled.  Wayne was also a member of the Northeast Weld Drylanders which continues to sponsor the Northeast Weld County Fair that his grandparents, Archie & Famie Box, were instrumental in starting in 1950.  The fair was always a summer highlight for Wayne participating in numerous 4-H and FFA projects.

On December 26, 1987, he married Teresa Irey.  They had three children, Carter, Kaitlin, and Keaton.  The absolute light of Wayne's life was his four grandchildren.  He loved spending time with them, holding and telling stories to August, Carly, Brooks, and Cooper.

Survivors include his children, Carter (Cheryl) Vangraefschepe and Keaton Vangraefschepe all of Fort Morgan, and Kaitlin (Taylor) Ruder of Wiggins; two sisters, Carol (Cary) Lambert of New Raymer and nieces and nephews, Chris, Chad, Cara, and Cyle; and Diane (Carl) Miller of Gunnison and two nieces Kayedeane and Shanan; four grandchildren who were his shining stars– August & Brooks Ruder and Carly and Cooper Vangraefschepe, and 3 step grandchildren Amber, Nathan and Serenity Storch, and numerous cousins. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Doris Vangraefschepe and a sister who passed at birth.

Inurnment will be at 12:00 PM in the New Raymer Cemetery at Saturday, July 17.  A Celebration of Wayne's life & reception will be follow on Saturday, July 17 at the New Raymer Community Building at 12:30 PM.  Please bring stories and memories to share with us.