Wayne Henry Heimermann, 70, passed away Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011.

Wayne was born and raised in Austin, Minn., and attended the University of Minnesota, receiving a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Wayne continued his education at Iowa State where he earned his master’s of zoology. After college, he continued working at the Hormel Institute as a chemist for Dr. Ralph T. Holman. Wayne and his family moved to Georgia and where he worked for Thermo Quest as a field engineer working with mass spectrometers until retiring in 2008. Prior to retirement, Wayne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Upon retirement, the condition escalated, and he suffered a stroke on Mother’s Day 2011. Wayne was working toward rehabilitation when the conditioned worsened. In July, Wayne and Mary Jo relocated to Florida to be closer to family. He passed quietly on Thursday afternoon surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo and two sons, Jeffrey and Jason; daughter-in-law, Magdalene and four grandchildren; Alexis, Abigail, Jared and Brady and his siblings Dale Heimermann and Marlene Webb.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Adella Heimermann and his daughter, Holly Heimermann.

A celebration of Wayne’s life is planned for Saturday, Oct. 15, in Orlando, Fla. The family plans to honor Wayne and his daughter Holly Heimermann — who passed away in 2009 — upon his request through a scattering of ashes ceremony on a lake.