Wayne Bradshaw age 88 of Warrensburg passed away Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at the Veterans Home in Warrensburg, Mo. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com. A graveside service for Wayne will be on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 10:30am at Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, Mo.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Veterans Home-Canteen and may be left in care of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, MO.

Wayne Lee Bradshaw was born May 9, 1930 to Fern Melvina Fry in Buchanan County near St. Joseph, Missouri.  At an early age the family moved near Clinton, Missouri where Wayne's mother met and married Ortha Lee Bradshaw, who later adopted Wayne and his sister Patty.  Wayne managed the Lee Theatre, off the square in Clinton, during his High School years, and immediately after graduating.  He really enjoyed the old classic movies and took great delight in getting to see the first runs of those movies.

In the early fifties, Wayne was drafted into the Army and served time in Korea.  While there, he earned a Bronze Service Star, an honor that he never shared or spoke of with his family.  His previous experience at the Lee Theatre provided him an opportunity to be the projection operator and show movies to his fellow Army buddies.  Providing entertainment to the troops was something he was very proud to have done, and he spoke of bringing joy to a dismal situation with pride.

After his enlistment was over, Wayne settled in Clinton and worked at the Clearfield Cheese Company.  He later moved around Missouri managing movie theatres in Carrollton, Nevada and Joplin.

In the early sixties, Wayne moved to San Diego, California where once again he managed a movie theatre.  Moving to Corona del Mar and then Huntington Beach, Wayne switched gears and worked for the Lyon Moving and Storage Company, which later became Allied Moving and Storage.  He was very proud of being a Teamster.  His working area was Hollywood, and he got to meet several movie stars and famous people.

Wayne was a Momma's boy and he always made sure that his mother never did without.  He frequently sent her flowers, money and wrote and sent cards on a weekly basis.  After his retirement and his dad's death, Wayne moved back to Clinton to look after his mother.  He made daily visits to the nursing home to make sure that she was being cared for properly.

Wayne never married nor had children.  But he was devoted to his niece, Cindy and her family.  He loved being Cindy's surrogate "dad", and even though he was a "Great Uncle" to her children, he treated them as if they were his grandchildren.  Until Alzheimers afflicted him in his later years, he NEVER forgot their birthdays or Christmas.  He took great pride in always bringing them birthday cakes.

Wayne loved to talk.  His hearing was horrible so it was hard to get a word into his conversations.  He was full of love and he was a very giving man.  He bestowed his thoughful gifts to everyone he knew.

After his health declined, Cindy became his caretaker.  The last five years of his life were spent in the Pleasant Valley Unit of the VA Nursing Home in Warrensburg, Missouri.  The nursing staff there loved his boyish character and took amazing care of him.  And even though his brain was failing, he was very happy with his new home.

Wayne was a lifetime member of the V.F.W., he was a member of the Teamsters Union, and at an early age he gave his life to Christ.

Wayne was preceded in death by his sister, Patty Lou Wright, his parents Lee and Fern Bradshaw, a nephew, Terry Greenhaw, and a very dear friend Bob Kirby.

Wayne is survived by his niece and caretaker, Cindy Bathgate and her husband Jeff; a great niece, Angie Bathgate; great nephews Adam Bathgate and wife Jennifer and Aaron Bathgate and Daina; great-great nephews and nieces, Josten, Braden, Dalton, Serenity, Von, and Ava;  along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Mo.