Millard Wayne Baltzell Jr.

Millard "Wayne" Baltzell Jr. was born in Cape Girardeau, MO to Ruth Ann and Millard "Skeeter" Baltzell in 1972. Wayne lived most of his life in Southern Illinois and Cape Girardeau, except for a year he lived in North Las Vegas, Nevada in 2015. Wayne worked nearly 15 years between Del-Farm Schnucks and Schnucks Carbondale in the video department (when they had video departments in the stores.) He then began working at Cape Girardeau Walmart, working overnights in Lawn and Garden, which he really enjoyed. During this time, he donated a kidney to his mom in 2005. That was how selfless this guy really was. Wayne would do anything for anybody if they needed something. Even though he kept his circle small, and he was a quiet person until he got to know you, he was known by many around the area. Wayne was an avid movie fan, catching movies in the theaters with friends and family growing up and later during and after COVID, streaming them at home. He especially loved collecting VHS and DVD movies of the 1980's. He really enjoyed that eras movies, primarily the slasher flicks and comedies. Wayne was a huge movie trivia fan and loved keeping up with the movies nominated for awards. He would follow websites that predicted their picks of the winners and by golly, come awards times he could more than likely say who was going to win before it was announced. Wayne also loved spending time with his friends and family earlier on before he became ill in recent years. He doted on his sisters, nieces and nephews and spending time with his parents. His mom and dad preceded him in death; his mom in 2010 and his dad in 2014. Wayne is survived by his two sisters, Roxanne Baltzell McDaniel and Kelly Baltzell, both of McClure IL. Roxanne is married to Morris McDaniel and they have two children, Alexis and Joshua McDaniel. Alexis has a 2 year old toddler son named Jaxton. Morris has a daughter Amanda Weikein from a previous marriage; she has 3 kids named Makayla, Dalanie and Payton. Kelly has one son Zachary Baltzell, (who is a spitting image of Wayne) and a fiancé named Al Ganzaway. Wayne loved each one of them very much and until his health declined, loved spending quality time with them as much as he could. He also is survived by his loving husband, Jake Wagner, whom he met in 1999 and married in Las Vegas in 2015. They had 2 dogs for a long time, Lizzie and Fancy that Wayne loved, that passed away just a few years ago. Debbie Kennedy and Nicole Petitt were lifelong friends, no...more like sisters, who were always there when Wayne and Jake needed anything. The gang was ALWAYS up for road trips, bingo or shenanigans of some kind. And one hell of a time did they have, let me tell you!! Wayne battled an undiagnosed gastrointestinal disease for over a decade which led to other organs being affected and damaged as it progressed. He battled pain and put up a strong fight for years, rarely complaining. He is the true definition of a hero. Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Graveside service will be 11:00 am Friday, August 18, 2023 at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Illinois. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com

Tributes

Millard Wayne Baltzell Jr.

April 15, 1972 - August 12, 2023