Wayne H. Bracha, 61, passed away on Feb. 21, 2018 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

A Remembrance of Life gathering will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, at Eagles Club in Aberdeen.

Wayne was born Aug. 31, 1956 in Mitchell to Walter, Sr. and Lylas (Whitlow) Bracha. He was raised in Forestburg and lived in Huron, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, where he put down roots and spent his last days.

Wayne served in the South Dakota National Guard and the last 23 years he was the warehouse manager for Dakota Supply Group in Aberdeen. There was never a dull moment with Wayne and he always lived life to the fullest. He took chances, enjoyed story-telling and was a jokester. His family was the most important thing to him.

He is survived by his girlfriend, Debbie Banik of Aberdeen; son Kelly Banik of Aberdeen; daughter, Jessica Banik of Sioux Falls; stepson, Jason (Jodi) Banik of Sioux Falls; two grandchildren; his father, Walter Bracha, Sr. of Forestburg; brother, Walter Jr. (Donna) Bracha of Forestburg; sisters, Lillian (Maynard) Puetz and Leonda (Ivan) Doering both of Mitchell; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lylas; an infant nephew, Jesse Puetz; aunts, uncles and grandparents.