Obituary of Wayne Bruce Fau

Colonel USAF (Ret), Wayne Bruce Fau, age 64, of Camdenton, MO, died of brain cancer, on April 22, 2008, fortified by the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church. Wayne is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth �Betty� (Andrews) of the home; son John (Melissa) San Antonio, TX; daughter June, Austin, TX; stepson Christopher (Jennifer) Kuehl, St. Louis, MO; brother Ronald (Mary), Springfield, MO; sister Judith (Herman) Oostendorp, Camdenton, MO; grandchildren: Melinda, Wayne, Lauren, Gayle, Conor and Nicholas; many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 34 years, Gayle (Thompson) Fau, and his parents John and Marie Fau. Wayne was born in Oak Park, IL on November 3, 1943 and graduated from Morton HS. He received his BS in Political Science from University of Nebraska at Omaha, his MA in Education from University of Southern California, and is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and Air War College. His Air Force career spanned 34 years of active duty, 24 spent as a commissioned officer, retiring as a Colonel. He served most of his career outside the US, with tours in the Philippines, Turkey, Japan, Okinawa, Germany, and Panama. Included in his medals are: the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal. He was inducted into the USAFSS/ESC/AFIC Hall of Honor in 2000. Chief among Wayne�s characteristics were that he was genuinely caring, humble, honorable, selfless, tirelessly dedicated in any endeavor, and totally devoted to God, his wife and family, his country, and his community. He embodied servant leadership. A respected member of congress once said: �Wayne is a man most men only aspire to be.� And the phrase �What would Wayne do?� was used by some as a moral compass. Time and again those he served with attributed their success in life and in their career to Wayne�s leadership model. Wayne was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Camdenton and a Knight of Columbus. He was always willing to serve in whatever capacity needed�from serving on the parish council and chairing committees to laying paver bricks and doing church maintenance. In the community, he chaired the Emergency Food and Shelter Group, was active in Meals-On-Wheels and Habitat for Humanity.