10/07/2025
Wayne J. Kluba
Wayne Joseph Kluba (a.k.a Sonny, Klubie, Klub, Wayne-O), 90, passed away peacefully on October 3rd 2025 in Lemont, IL. Surrounded by love, he left this world with the same strength and grace with which he lived his life.
Born on April 4th, 1935 in Krakow, Missouri, he was the oldest child to Alphonse & Alma Kluba. Wayne grew up with a deep appreciation for family, hard work, humor, and kindness. He spent all his formative years in Krakow where he learned to have fun, picked up valuable life skills and got into plenty of mischief, sharing stories that still keep us laughing to this day. After graduating from St. Francis Borgia High School in Washington, he started his career as a truck driver with Fisher Oil. He later went on to work for Standard Oil in Wood River, moving his family to Florissant, MO. After 30 years in Florissant, he accepted a promotion as a terminal manager for Amoco in the Peoria, IL area. After 35+ years working for Amoco Oil, he retired and stayed busy turning his efforts to volunteering. For many years, he collected and distributed donations to needy families in eastern Kentucky through the Christian Appalachian Project and many other local organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Blessed Sacrament Parish, and Knights of Columbus. For over nine years, Wayne and Carol made their home in the Chicago suburbs—first at Carillon in Plainfield, IL, where they continued an active golf lifestyle, and most recently at Franciscan Village in Lemont, IL where they enjoyed playing cards, shooting pool, and crafting.
He met his beloved wife, Carol Marquart, at Krakow Store and they married May 14, 1960. Together they had 7 children and built a family rooted in love, faith, and laughter. He devoted his life to being a loving husband, father, grandfather, coach, friend, teaching by example the values of loyalty, humor, and generosity. To know him was to be welcomed with warmth, encouragement, and a story that could always bring a smile. He understood the importance of having an education and encouraged & supported all 7 of his children to get a college degree.
A devout Roman Catholic, Wayne was a parishioner of St. Sabina Church in Florissant and Blessed Sacrament in Morton, IL. It was in Morton that he became a proud member of the Fr. Raho Council #4194 of the Knights of Columbus, where he was a Fourth Degree Sir Knight. His faith fueled his good works, and his family and countless friends gave his life its richness. Wayne would faithfully end each day on bended knees to say his nightly prayers, giving up his worries to God and counting all his blessings.
In addition to his deep faith, Wayne found joy in playing euchre, golf, tennis, fishing and gardening, playing his guitar, painting, and camping with his family. Wayne & Carol loved to dance together and you could find them gliding across the dance floor at any weddings or special events. He will be remembered for his incredible smile, his amazing childhood stories, his unwavering love for Carol, his unyielding faith, his keen mind and quick wit that could make anyone laugh.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, his 7 children: Colette (Bob) Pinter of Plainfield, IL, Dale (Beth) Kluba of St. Charles, MO, Brenda (Bill) Schneider of Quincy, IL, Sharon (Rob) Harte of New Buffalo, MI, Kim (Pat) Nielsen of West Bend, WI, Kurt (Lisa) Kluba of Chesterfield, MO, & Amy (Mike) Stone of Downers Grove, IL. His 19 grandchildren: Robert (Nikki) Pinter, Emily (Jake) Lohse, Alyssa Pinter, Caitlin (Christian) Fisk, Dennis Kluba, Matt Kluba, Melinda (Zach) Hoener, Brian (Megan) Schneider, Andrew (Mary Ellen) Harte, Meghan Harte, David Harte, Adam Nielsen, Kate Nielsen, Drew Nielsen, Kacey Kluba (Kenny Alca), Dillon Kluba, Brady Kluba, Lydia Stone, & Henry Stone. His 5 great-grandchildren: Levi Hoener, Maelyn Hoener, Sophie Fisk, Robbie Pinter, & Mikey Pinter, one brother Don Kluba, 2 sisters-in-law Joyce Kluba Burns & Connie Kluba, and other relatives and friends, who will forever carry his legacy in their hearts.
Wayne is preceded in death by his mother (Alma) and father (Alphonse), brother Karl, and other family and friends that have gone before him.
Though we will miss him deeply, we know he is watching over us, and his spirit will continue to guide us.
Visitation will be on Friday, October 10th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Nieburg-Vitt Funeral Home in Washington, MO. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 11th, at St. Francis Borgia Church in Washington, MO, with Fr. Richard Hanneke officiating. A burial service will be held at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Krakow, immediately following the mass. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Residential Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.