Dwaine H. Wynia

Dwaine H. Wynia, 89, of Amarillo, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  Services will be held at a later date.

Dwaine was born March 13, 1934 at the home of his parents, Harlo and Ruby (Odefy) Wynia, in Platte, South Dakota. He grew up on the family ranch and graduated from Platte High School in 1952. In 1954, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He had basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and then attended artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then assigned to the 284th Infantry division as a forward observer for the artillery support group for the 101st airborne division stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. While in the Army, he participated in “Operation Sagebrush” at Fort Polk, Louisiana and was detailed to the 82nd airborne division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged on December 7, 1956 at Fort Campbell.

In September 1957, he enrolled in the civil engineering school at South Dakota State College in Brookings and graduated in 1961. He then accepted employment with the Dept. of Interior in Huron, South Dakota. During this time, he worked on various assignments and was the construction engineer at the 69-kv substation at Creston, Iowa.

In December 1958, Dwaine married Diann Leistra at the United Methodist Church in Geddes, South Dakota. To this union, four children were born.

In April 1971, Dwaine transferred to the Amarillo Regional office for the Southwest Region which covered all of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and southeast Colorado. On March 6, 1980, Dwaine married the love of his life, Sylvia Ewing at his home in Amarillo, Texas. Dwaine retired in 1990 with 29 ½ years of service.

In 1995, Dwaine and Sylvia sold their home, their cars and furniture to become full-time RVers. They continued their travel trailer life for several years, visiting 44 of the lower 48 states and most Canadian provinces. In 2005, they sold their truck and trailer and purchased a “tiny house” in Casa Grande, Arizona. They wintered in Casa Grande for 17 years where they square and line danced, played cards, bingo, etc. They had a lot of fun and made life-long friends.

In 2012, they sold their property in Casa Grande and returned to Amarillo to be closer to their six kids.

Dwaine was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sylvia Wynia; two younger sisters, Leanne Peed and Audrey Wynia; and two young grandsons, Paul Sifuentez and Justin Stegner.

Survivors include his children, Judy Rae Jackson and husband Troy of Irving, TX, Lori Marie Hill Sifuentez and husband Richard, Steven Wynia, and Cindi Jo Wynia, all of Amarillo; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Whiskey.