R. Wayne "Patch" Ladely, Sr.

R. Wayne "Patch" Ladely, Sr.

R. Wayne 'Patch' Ladely, Sr. age 82 of Sunol, NE passed on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 with family by his side at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, CO. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Faith Methodist Church in Sidney, NE with Pastor Corey Jenkins officiating. Cremation has been held. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date. Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website.

Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday, June 23rd from 1-6:00 P.M. with family present from 4-6:00 P.M. to leave condolences for the family. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Wayne's memory for later designation.

You may view Wayne's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Wayne's care and funeral arrangements.

Wayne was born to Floyd Irven "Bud" Ladely Sr. and Edna Pearl (Miller) on June 20, 1941 in Martin, SD. Wayne grew up on the family ranch outside of Martin, SD and attended Suhre Country School until the 8th grade. He then worked on the family homestead through his teen years. 

Over the years, Wayne wore many different hats as he traveled around the country. A few of the occupations he held were a team roper, welder on bridge crews, rough neck on the oil rigs, and ranch hand at the St. George Ranch. Wayne then found his passion and started his own business building barbed wire fences around Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming where word spread like wildfire that he built the best. 

Wayne loved his work so much that he did not believe in sick days, didn't believe in snow days, and retirement was not a part of Wayne's vocabulary. Wayne also believed in passing down skills for future generations and because he loved fencing so much, he employed his sons and his grandsons to work by his side with the hopes that one day one of them would keep his fencing legacy alive. Wayne was hard-working and dedicated, and saw to just that to the very end. 

Wayne, like his siblings, was a people person and believed a stranger is a friend he hadn't met yet. He loved going to local eateries to not only enjoy the food and coffee but to put smiles on people's faces who passed by. The "pirate cowboy" was always seen at Perkins, the Rolling Pin, Dude's and the Potter Sundry, just to name a few. Wayne made many friendships with travelers from all over the country who would return to the area anxiously wanting to hear more of his stories. 

He will be greatly missed and leaves an incredible void to be filled not only for his family but also the communities of Sidney and the surrounding area.  

Wayne is survived by his sister, Kay Christner, sons Jim Ladely, Tim Ladely, Kenny Koenig, Richard and wife Michelle Ladely, Jr. and Ralph Cox, 9 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Wayne is also survived by many, many special friends of the community. 

In death, Wayne is reunited with his parents "Bud" and "Pearl" Ladely, sisters Phyllis Daughters, Donna Westover, Eileen Kamerzell, Norma Harris, and Ruth Suiter and brothers James Ladely and Irven Ladely, Jr.