Wayne Spencer

Wayne Spencer, 86, of Prairie Village, KS, passed away on April 20th, 2024.

Wayne was born on March 14, 1938 to Harold and Rosemary Spencer in Wichita, KS. After Wayne graduated from Manhattan High School in 1956, he went on to study Pre-Med at Kansas State University, graduating in 1960. From there he went on to study medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center where he graduated in 1964.

Somehow, despite the demands of a career in medicine, Wayne found the time to get his private pilot’s license. During his Medical Residency at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, he met Nila Sue Russell. Wayne and Nila were married on August 25th, 1968. Soon after their marriage, Wayne was called up to active duty in the United States Army to serve a 12-month tour of duty in Vietnam, in the Mekong area of Vietnam working in the 12th EVAC Hospital. Wayne returned stateside to serve at Fort Monmouth Army Hospital, where their oldest son Doug was born.

Upon completing his military obligation, Wayne and Nila moved to Kansas City so Wayne could complete his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at University of Kansas Medical Center.

Wayne, Nila, and Doug moved to Topeka in 1972 for him to start his career as a Gastroenterologist and they welcomed another son Greg, shortly thereafter.
Wayne was all about family. In addition to attending all his kids’ activities, Wayne loved playing cards with friends and family, had season tickets for K-State football and basketball and was an active participant in the Wesley Weds Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church.

In 2003, Wayne retired from his full-time Medical Practice and spent his time attending grandkid’s events, auditing classes at Washburn and attending home/away K-State sporting events.

Wayne and Nila moved to Rogers, AR in 2016. Upon seeing their youngest grandchild graduate from high school in May of 2022, Wayne and Nila then moved back to Kansas in October of 2022.

Wayne was predeceased by Harold Crane (Father), Rosemary (Mother), Harold Robert (Brother). He is survived by his Wife, Nila, and their two Son’s, Doug and Karen Spencer of Overland Park and Greg and Corinna Spencer of Dallas-Fort Worth. Wayne had four grandchildren, Katherine, Rachel, Thane and Avery Spencer.

A Celebration of Life will be held 6-8pm, Tuesday, April 23rd at Meadowbrook Senior Living, 9300 Parkside Dr., Prairie Village, KS. Funeral Services will be held 10:30am, Wednesday, April 24th at First United Methodist Church (the Chapel) Topeka, 600 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS. Graveside service will follow at 2:30pm at Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to organizations that Wayne was most passionate about: the Spencer Family Scholarship at the KSU Foundation, National Center for Fathering or First United Methodist Church Topeka, KS.

To leave a message for his family online, please visit the guestbook below.