Wayne Hoskins

Wayne Hoskins of Culdesac passed from this life to his eternal reward at home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.

Wayne was born the second of six children to Angus Emery Hoskins and Myrtle Bell Britt on Aug. 12, 1921, in Fossil, Ore. When Wayne was 5 years old, the family moved to the Gifford area of Idaho. Wayne attended the historic Black School, a one-room schoolhouse that was located near their home, through the sixth grade. During that time, he and his brothers trapped skunks to sell the hides for extra money; it wasn't until years later they found out the postmaster threw them away instead of sending them back East. The boys could never understand why they weren't paid for their hard work.

After elementary school, he attended Lapwai High School. It was there that he started his bus driving career by picking up fellow students and driving them to school in his dad's old pickup truck. They crossed the Clearwater River at Myrtle, drove along the bluff to Spalding, where they crossed back over the river and on to school. Wayne transferred to Culdesac High School, where he finished high school.

Wayne met his wife-to-be, Wanda Jane Johnson, at a picnic at Spalding Park, and one week after the attack on Pearl Harbor the two were married on Dec. 14, 1941, in Kendrick. They were married for more than 74 years. Wayne joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II in 1943 and 1944. Following the end of the war, Wayne was happy to be honorably discharged and return to his farm in Gifford. After driving along Cottonwood Creek for many months and seeing the potential of a wonderful farm, Wayne successfully purchased the desired property and in March 1951 Wayne and Wanda moved their family to their present home on Cottonwood Creek, where they raised their five children. This new property actually bordered his Uncle Ferman's ranch. After clearing the property, building buildings and planting crops, Wayne and Wanda started running a Grade A dairy - they milked cows at their ranch for 39 years. In addition to milking the cows at the dairy, they also ran beef cattle year-round. Wayne also drove a school bus for the Culdesac School District for several years until his duties at the dairy became too great; he quit driving a bus and devoted his time to the dairy.

Hard work was a definite part of Wayne's life. His work ethic has been transferred, not only to his children but also to many of his nephews and grandchildren, who would come and work on the farm during the summers. One of the highlights of Wayne's life was attending family reunions, especially with his uncles and aunts, the Britt family in Spray, Ore. The Britts were well-known for their love of a good prank, a trait that Wayne developed to perfection and even passed on to his children.

Wayne was a member of the Nez Perce Cattlemen's Association. He was also a member of the Dairyman's Association and was named Idaho Grass Man of the year in 1961. Wayne and Wanda were also chapter members of Cottonwood Creek Community Church; they are the last surviving charter members, along with their two oldest children, Howard and Sharon. Church and a relationship with God were priorities for the entire Hoskins family.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and all five of his siblings.

His wife, Wanda; and their five children and spouses survive Wayne. The children are Howard Hoskins and his wife, Ann, Gloria Richards and her husband, Jay, Victor Hoskins and his wife, Lee, Wanetta Heimgartner and her husband, Rick, all of Culdesac, and Sharon Johnston and her husband, Bill, of Forest Grove, Ore. There are also 16 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren who also survive Wayne.

The family tried hard to get Wayne to retire, but he steadfastly refused. He was slowed by a major stroke on Sept. 6, 2014, but still tried to direct the details of the farm from his wheelchair. So on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, Wayne was promoted to the great roundup in the sky. The family is grateful to Tyler Anderson and the staff of Elite Hospice for their compassion and care during Wayne's final days.

A celebration of life memorial service officiated by the Rev. James Lindstrand and the Rev. Bill Johnston will be held at 11:29 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Cottonwood Creek Community Church on the Gifford-Reubens Road.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to a memorial in Wayne's honor at Cottonwood Creek Community Church, 20706 Gifford-Reubens Road, Culdesac, ID 83524. Lunch will be served following the memorial service.