Wayne Eldon Gamm

Surrounded by family, Wayne Eldon Gamm, 87, of rural Bowling Green, MO was welcomed home into God’s loving arms and his everlasting rest on December 3, 2023 at his home in rural Bowling Green, MO. Funeral services will be on Friday, December 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Providence Presbyterian Church in Vera, MO, with Rev. Joe Siefkas and Rev. Jerry Gamm officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 7, 2023 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bibb-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green. Burial will be in the Bowling Green City Cemetery. Wayne was the son of Frank Eldon and Frances Salome (Becker) Gamm and was born on July 22, 1936 at his Becker grandparents’ home in rural Bowling Green. He attended Watson School in Vera and graduated from Bowling Green High School at the age of 16 in 1953. Wayne was united in marriage to Georgia Mae Finley on October 2, 1960 at Providence Presbyterian Church in Vera. To their union were born four children: Marilyn Sue, Jo Ann, Larry Wayne, and Carol Amy. He was a lifelong member of Providence Presbyterian Church, where he had served as the song leader since he was a teenager until shortly before his death. Over the years, he sang for many weddings and funerals for family, friends and church members. Wayne was also a Deacon, Ruling Elder, and the Sunday School Treasurer for the church. For him, Sundays were for attending church in the morning, and either taking his children with him to visit ill or elderly family and church members in the afternoon or on drives to scenic places. Wayne also particularly practiced his Christian faith helping a number of neighbors, especially widowed women, in various ways. His care and concern for ill, elderly, and widowed family, church members, and neighbors are values his four children continue to practice in their own ways and lives. Wayne’s life’s work was as a crop and livestock farmer. As his father’s second family and oldest son, Wayne began farming full time supporting his ailing Dad after graduating from high school. Then when at the age of 19 Wayne’s father died, he assumed full responsibility for providing for his mother and his 13-year-old brother. Before his Dad died, he said to Wayne, “I’m not going to make it. It’s up to you, son, to get the work done.” From that point forward the responsibility for getting the crops planted and harvested fell on Wayne to do. Later he and his brother worked together and farmed as Gamm Brothers. Wayne continued to farm until he was 85, retiring due to failing health. His farm work was honored by Wayne and his family being chosen to attend the Missouri State Fair as the Pike County Farm Family in 1978. He served as a Director on the Pike County Mutual Insurance Board for 50 years, and as the Board President for almost 40 years. Wayne served two terms on the Pike County Extension Council. He also served two terms on the Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Among Wayne’s passions were collecting and restoring antique Ford vehicles and CASE farm machinery. He enjoyed driving some of the Ford and CASE vehicles to church and in parades, and entering them in car shows. Wayne served as a Director of the J.I. CASE Collectors, Inc. for six years, and for five of those years as the Secretary. He was also a member of the J.I. CASE Heritage Foundation, was a founding member of the Missouri Screamin’ Eagle CASE Club, and a past member of the Vintage Machinery Club. Over the years, Wayne also mentored several teenage boys by opening his workshop and teaching them how to work on their vehicles while also listening to what was going on in their lives in a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. He was a member of the Vera Community Center organization, serving as its President for many years. And Wayne was a past member of the Pike County Historical Society. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; by his three older sisters: Edna (Gamm) Gillum, Amy Gamm, and Katie Belle (Gamm) Oliver; by his niece, Ruby (Gillum, Eoff) Feith; by his great-niece, Sherry (Eoff) Halemeyer; and by his great-granddaughter, Charlie Mae Hegg. He is survived by his wife of 63 years: Georgia Gamm; by his four children: Marilyn Gamm (Craig Howard), Jo Witt, Larry Gamm (Carmen), and Carol Smith (Jim); by seven grandchildren: Nikole Ashleigh (Witt) Gregersen (Jordan), Corteney Leann (Witt) Hegg (Derick), John Thomas Gamm, Lukas James Smith, Rachael Christina Smith, Trevor Ellis, and Katrina Ellis; by eight great-grandchildren: Peyton Jo Gregersen, Cambree Grace Gregersen, Garrett Douglas Gregersen, Henry Allan Hegg, Cayden Wayne Hegg, Charles Finley Ellis, Lily Mae Grasshoff, and Claire Lee Grasshoff; by his brother, Vernon Gamm (Joyce); cousins, nieces and nephews; and church, CASE, insurance board, and community friends. Memorials are suggested to Pike County Home Health and Hospice, or donor’s choice. Pallbearers: Lukas Smith, John Gamm, Wade Gamm, Joe Talkington, Larry Stewart, Brian Oliver. Honorary Pallbearers: Nikole Gregersen, Corteney Hegg, Rachael Smith, Barry Oliver, Jeff Oliver, Charles Becker, Frank Becker, Chris Gamm, Nathan Gamm, Fred Gamm, Pike County Mutual Insurance Company Board members.

Wayne Eldon Gamm

July 22, 1936 - December 3, 2023