Wayne Lee Donaldson

Wayne Lee Donaldson, 71, Atchison, Kansas died Saturday, January 26, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, February 1, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Joseph's Church with Rev. Jeremy Heppler, OSB as celebrant. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be Thursday, January 31, 2019 at Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home from 6:00 until 7:30 P.M.  Memorial contributions are suggested to Atchison High School Athletic Department or Atchison Recreation Commission and may be left in care of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home.  Online donations may also be left at GOFUNDME.com/Wayne-Donaldson-memorial-fund.

Wayne was born October 9, 1947 in Atchison, Kansas the son of Max L. and Marjorie M. Powell Donaldson. Following the unexpected death of his mother at a young age, his father then married Nancy McConnaughey in 1967. He and the former Virginia L. Schrick were united in marriage on September 1, 1979 in Atchison, Kansas. Wayne began his education at Washington Elementary and graduated from AHS in 1965. After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Science of Education from Emporia State University in 1970 and completed his Master of Arts in School Leadership from Benedictine College in 1994.

His teaching career began in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He returned to his hometown in 1976 to teach Physical Education and Health. He loved sports and was devoted to physical wellbeing and learning. He became involved in extracurricular activities such as his TAKE A HIKE and JUMP ROPE FOR HEART programs and coaching football, wrestling and softball. He then switched sides becoming a registered KSHSAA official for football, basketball, and volleyball. Wayne was active in the local, state, and national chapters of National Education Association and in professional associations, such as Kansas Association of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD. KAHPERD presented Wayne with their Honor Award in 2001, of which, he was very proud.

Active in the community, Wayne spent many summers as the director of Atchison's Youth Baseball program, managed the Lion's Pool, and initiated the Youth Wrestling program in partnership with the YMCA. He was a member of the Atchison County Emergency Rescue Squad and spent many a stormy night as a weather spotter. He was a member of St. Benedict Parish attending St. Joseph Church, the Atchison Watershed Board and the Atchison Tree Board. He was a member of Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE), Pineview Golf Club and the Son's of the American Legion.

After 40 years in education, Wayne traded his gym whistle for golf, fly fishing, bowling, cards and grandchildren.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Donaldson, Atchison, KS; his Mother, Nancy Donaldson, Atchison, KS; two sons, Michael Lee (Carrie) Donaldson, New Baden, IL; Matthew Donaldson, Atchison, KS; two daughters, Jennifer (Bob) Arani, Oklahoma City, OK; Becky (Kyle) Ross, Polo, MO; and five grandchildren; Angelika, Ruby, Zach, Tommy Lee, and Dallas.

Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Max L. Donaldson and his birth mother, Marjorie Mae Donaldson.