William Wayne Gaynor

William “Bill” Wayne Gaynor went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 22, 2025. Bill was born on June 2, 1940, to Wayne Jennings Gaynor and Marjorie Louise (Flicker) Gaynor at St. Benedict’s Hospital in Sterling, Colorado. The family resided on a farm near Atwood, Colorado. Four years later they welcomed a daughter, Kay Ellen, to the family. Bill enjoyed his childhood and spent many hours roaming the South Platte River with his friends. He was baptized in the Atwood Methodist Church at age 13. Bill attended Atwood Elementary School then transferred to Sterling High School and graduated in 1958. Durning his senior year in high school Bill and his long-time friend Jim Miller enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and in June 1958 they stepped on the yellow footprints at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, California, the largest Marine Corps based on the West Coast. While in the Marine Corps, he spent a year in Hawaii and decided riding bulls would be entertaining and joined the Hawaiian Rodeo Cowboy Association, with the broken bones to prove it. He was then sent to Vietnam as a Marine Advisor in 1961 and his job duty was Shore Fire Control with ANGLICO. He was honorably discharged in June 1962 when he returned to Atwood to farm with his parents. After working long hours all summer farming, a terrible hailstorm destroyed all the crops and Bill decided farming was not for him. From late 1962-1967, Bill worked various jobs from construction, trucking, heating and air conditioning installation, bank teller and was a part-time student at Northeastern Junior College for a couple of years.

In 1964, he married, Charlotte Koehler, and to the union they were blessed with two wonderful children, Julie Jo in July 1966 and Michael Wayne in October 1971. When the Cold War GI Bill came out, he moved his family to Daytona Beach, Florida and attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical Institute. This is where he found his passion for math, getting his degree as an Aeronautical Engineer. About the time he was to graduate, the bottom fell out of the Aerospace Field and his dream of becoming an astronaut died. For the next 17 years he worked for several different companies in many different states in the U.S. and many different countries as an Engineer. When he came back to Sterling, he and his partner, Frank Seckler, started Ceres International, an agriculture company. Bill had several patents for his innovative inventions. He met the love of his life, Denise Fix Young, and they were married in 1982 and adopted her son, Dane August in 1984. He started his own company, Gaynor Engineering, repairing and rewinding electric motors. He sold that business, keeping the name, and started another company building equipment for the tunneling industry.

Bill and a group of veterans was responsible for bringing the traveling Vietnam Wall to Sterling honoring the Vietnam veterans in the area and was also part of the committee to build the Veterans Memorial at Columbine Park. He was a member of the American Legion, Sterling Elk’s Lodge, and started the Military Family Support Group with the help of his wife, Denise, and LuAnn Travis in 2004. He was a member of the First Baptist Church for several years getting baptized again in 2006.

He had several passions, and one was building a rocket car with his team called the City of Sterling that could go 1000 miles per hour. Unfortunately, trying to find a major sponsor to get the car and crew to the Utah Salt Flats proved daunting and he had to give up. His other passion was “his” Marines. He loved putting together the Marine Corps Birthday Ball on November 10th to keep the tradition alive. Now its up to you younger Marines to carry on that tradition. Of course, he loved and was always willing to help his brothers and sisters in any branch of service.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Marge; three Brother-In-Laws, Bill Martin, Ed Lewis and Don Dreyer; two nieces, Debbie Martin and Jensen Haynes; His Father-In-Law Duard Fix. Bill is survived by his wife Denise Gaynor of Wray, CO; Sister, Kay Dreyer; Daughter, Julie Stanley (Mark); and Sons, Michael Gaynor and Dane Gaynor. His Grandchildren include Erika Rose, Kortney Perkins, Branden Stanley, Ashli Ochs, Tylar Gaynor Sanchez, Beau Gaynor, Dane Austin Gaynor, Meridee Gaynor and Great-Grandchildren Ruby Perkins, Hazel Ramirez, Brynlee Sanchez and Harlow Stanley. He is also survived by his Mother-In-Law, Amy Fix, Sister-In-Laws Dawnelle Haynes and Keri Fix; Brother-In-Laws Darus Fix and Max Haynes and several nieces and nephews.

A family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Cards may be sent in care of Denise Gaynor, 323 Douglas St., Wray, CO 80758

Courage is not defined by those who fought and did not fall, but by those who fought, fell, and rose again.