Wayne Leonard Rathburn, 78
Wayne Leonard Rathburn, 78, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away Monday, April 5, 2021 in Coeur d’Alene. He was born Jan. 11, 1943, in Sacramento, Calif., to Wayne G. and Irene R. (Lopes) Rathburn.
He grew up in Sacramento and attended grade schools there before moving to Ohio, where he attended Catholic schools. Later, he transferred to Virginia to the D.J. O’Connell High School where he graduated. He attended college at the American River College in Sacramento.
He entered the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the U.S.S. Galveston from 1963 to 1967 off the coast of Viet Nam, and was discharged honorably.
He began working for the U.S. Post Office as a mail carrier in San Diego County and later worked for North Island as a federal firefighter for several years. He went to work for the San Diego Police Department - his dream job - and later applied to the San Diego Sheriff's office. He worked as a deputy sheriff in San Diego County until his medical retirement in 1988.
Wayne met his wife Shirley Crook while working for the San Diego Sheriff’s office and they were married May 14, 1983, in Benita, Calif. They resided there until his retirement after serving 18 years as a deputy sheriff.
In 1990 they moved to Prescott, Ariz., residing there for 13 years until moving to Coeur d’Alene, in 2002.
His hobbies included collecting guns for many years, fishing and hunting. He belonged to the San Diego Sheriffs Association, Officers Without Legal Status (O.W.L.S.) and the NRA.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Rathburn, Coeur d’Alene; son, Scot (Christi) Rathburn; cousins, Lennie (Bill) Marlott, Grass Valley, Calif. and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Lopes of Sacramento; along with numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne G. and Irene R. Rathburn.
Memorials can be made in his name to the Toys for Tots, St. Vincent DePaul or the Kootenai Humane Society.
No services will be held as per his wishes — his way.
He will be interred at the St. Pius X Columbarium at a later date.
Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements. Please visit Wayne’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guest book.