Wayne Leo Clemens

Wayne Leo Clemens, age 90, of Greensburg, passed peacefully on Friday, February 7th 2025 at Rehabilitation and Nursing Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Pa.

Born Dec. 16, 1934, in Jeannette, he was the son of Leo J. Clemens and Ruth L. Loughner Clemens. Wayne was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and dependable friend. In addition to his late parents, he was preceded in death in 2012 by his loving wife of 52 years, Suzanne Waugaman Clemens, and in 2019 by his sister, Gladys M. Clemens Panichella. Wayne is survived by his children, Jeffrey W. Clemens, husband of Carole Wegner, Timothy L. Clemens, Dianna S. Clemens Heim, wife of Kenneth Heim, and Scott A. Clemens; his five grandchildren, Rachael Clemens, Erik Wegner-Clemens (fiancé of Sage Brand), Ariana Heim; Kira Wegner-Clemens, and Colyn Heim (fiancé of Caitlin Yung) his great granddaughter, Hayden Rizor; and his nieces and nephews.

Wayne helped his father with the family’s coal delivery business and worked on his aunt and uncle’s farm in Bouquet, during and after World War II. Wayne was a 1952 graduate of Jeannette High School. He would work for the New York State Natural Gas Corporation full time until he was drafted. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 76th Engineer Battalion. During the Korean Conflict, he served from 1954-56 as a cartographer/draftsman and as a construction supervisor for bridges and structures in and around Seoul, Korea. This work included overseeing the clearance of minefields. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal. He would continue to serve under the Ready Reserves until his formal discharge in 1962 with the rank of Specialist 4.

Under the GI bill, Wayne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology and education from Waynesburg College in 1961. He worked briefly in the Greensburg Salem School District before taking positions with Carborundum and later Westinghouse Electric Corp. Beginning in 1966, Wayne taught as an educator in the Jeannette City School District, instructing at various grade levels, but primarily as an Earth and Space Science and Math teacher at Jeannette Junior High School. He enjoyed meeting his former students while out and about. Wayne earned his Master’s in education in 1978 from the University of Pittsburgh. After his full-time retirement, Wayne enjoyed serving as a substitute teacher for many years at Greensburg Salem High School.

Upon retirement from teaching in 1993, Wayne became active in the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) and I.U. #7 Federal Credit Union, serving as the credit’s union president for several years. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 33, Greensburg, Pa. and served in Post committees and positions. He served on the Greensburg Salem School District school board. Appointed Chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, he oversaw the selection of architects and construction companies for the renovation of the Junior High School in 1978-79. He concurrently served as a trustee of the Central Westmoreland Vocational Technical School board. 

For more than 25 years, Wayne performed summer maintenance and repair work in the Greensburg/Jeannette area and for several years was the Maintenance Supervisor at the former "Care for Youth Inc"., Greensburg. He also volunteered for Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. Wayne volunteered for more than 15 years at Christian Layman, Greensburg where he ensured the delivery of donated items to other charities and oversaw its truck fleet, maintaining use and compliance to operate the vehicles safely. In 2019, Wayne was named the PASR Volunteer of the Year. He was a 62-year member of the First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg and participated in the former Highlanders group. Wayne enjoyed staying active with Silver Sneakers and attending live music concerts, especially the River City Brass Band. Wayne enjoyed reading, short wave radios, vintage cars, riding scooters with late friend Bill, history, and learning about the natural world, especially geology and astronomy. 

Family and friends are welcome to a visitation on Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, February 14, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, 524 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA. A funeral service begin at 11:00 am with The Rev. Dr. Martin Ankrum presiding. Entombment will follow at St. Clair Cemetery, 944 St. Clair Way, Greensburg with military honors being afforded by the U.S. Army and the VFW Post #33. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Wayne’s favorite charities, Christian Layman Corps, (via link : https://christianlaymancorps.com/ ) 258 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA 15601 or the educational foundations of Jeannette or Greensburg Salem school districts. Jeannette link: https://jeannette-educational-foundation.square.site/ or Greensburg Salem link: https://www.gsedfound.com/_ 

KEPPLE-GRAFT Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.