DeWayne Herd

Lawrence DeWayne Herd was born September 23, 1921 South of Protection, Kansas--the eighth child of George Robert and Bertha Agnes Herd.
DeWayne, as he would be called, joined sisters: Doris Coles, Velma Wimmer, Ruth Land, Maxine Brewer, Beatrice McNelly and Margaret St. Clair Watts.
DeWayne's brothers were: Harmon Herd, James Herd and Hern Herd and his cousin, Ward Harmon, became a member of the Herd Family at a young age following the deaths of his parents.
DeWayne was the remaining survivor of the Family until his death this week on February 11th.
DeWayne purchased the Herd East Farm from his family after the death of his father and continued to farm it until he was well into his 80s. He loved the farm and spent most of his waking hours there tending to his crops and livestock.
In 1942 DeWayne made the acquaintance of a young Protection woman named Dolores Madaline Huff. In 1942, the couple began a long engagement prior to DeWayne heading off to the Pacific Theatre as the nation entered into World War Two.
Corporal DeWayne Herd was a combat veteran in the war, serving 3 years in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. He served with the 161st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division and his battalion received numerous awards and The Presidential Citation for their accomplishments in dispatching enemy aircraft.
DeWayne received his discharge at the end of the war and returned back to Comanche County in December of 1945.
A few weeks later, on January 10th 1946, he married Dolores in Protection. In December of that year the Herds welcomed their daughter Cheryl and then sons Steve, Stan, Stewart, Sid and Chad.
DeWayne and Dolores were married 67 years before her passing in September of 2013.
DeWayne loved hunting, sports, politics, music, his farm and his family.
His survivors include: Cheryl and Tom Jacobs of Ramona, Ok, Steve and Sheryl Ann Herd of Protection, Stan Herd and Anne Reaney of Lawrence, Stewart and Heather Herd of Santa Fe, NM, Sid and Shawna Herd of Buffalo, Ok and Chad and Gretchen Herd of Denver, Co, and 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
DeWayne was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters and by his daughter-in-law Kris Herd, grandson Sy Herd and his wife and lifelong partner, Dolores Madaline Herd.

Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 13, 2015, at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.

Graveside service is at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Protection Cemetery in Protection, KS, with full military honors.

Memorials may be sent to Pioneer Lodge or Donor's Choice in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.