Wayne Held, 78

Wayne Alvin Held was born Sept. 7, 1942, in Monroe under the union of Alvin John Held and Alma Louise Sachs. He was one of three siblings born from this marriage. Wayne proudly served our military in the U.S. Army as a member of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” Paratrooper team. After aiding in the Armed Forces, he would become an industrial electrician and would receive his associate degree in business from Monroe County Community College. For 35 years, Wayne would be employed as a maintenance superintendent at Guardian Industries.
He married the love of his life, the former Linda Carmon on Aug. 15, 1964, in Monroe. The couple would be blessed with the birth of three children. As a faithful man, Wayne attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Colon. He was a member of American Legion Post #192 in Temperance.
Wayne worked hard and played hard. Family was of the utmost importance to him. He always cherished the times he would spend with his children, then later his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed his time playing friendly games of “cutthroat” euchre and tossing a line in Sturgeon Lake, St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan for Salmon fishing. Wayne was an avid fan of the University of Michigan football team as a season ticket-holder.
Wayne Alvin Held, age 78, of Colon, passed away Sept. 15, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Kenneth Held, in 2008.
To cherish his memory Wayne leaves his beloved wife, Linda Held; father-in-law, Kenneth Carmon; a daughter, LeAnn (David Mounts) Owens; a son:, Ryan (Tisha) Held; two sisters, Joyce (the late Edward) St. Bernard and Brenda Edmonds; sister-in-law, Carol (Douglas) Rafko; five grandchildren, Jason (Amanda) Thurman, Jacob (Allison) Held, Jordan Held, Levi (Ashley) Held and Lydia Held; seven great-grandchildren, Tessa, Lilli and Parker Thurman, Isaac and Noah Held, and Kenneth and Ryan Held; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe, 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan, was entrusted with his care. Private services are planned and cremation will take place. In honor of Wayne, memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or please perform an unexpected, unsolicited act of kindness to someone. Online guests may leave words of comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.