John Joseph Wainman, 78, of Belle Fourche, passed away at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital on May 17, 2023, after an unforeseen diagnosis of cancer. All 3 of his loving children were by his side when he passed.
John was born April 7, 1945, in Gary, Indiana. The 7th of 10 children born to William and Mary Wainman.
John grew up in Gary, Indiana. He attended St. Luke Catholic grade school for eight years. He attended Emerson High School in Gary, Indiana, and graduated in 1963.
John joined the U.S. Air Force in June of 1965. He received his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. He was then assigned to the base police squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, SD.
John met his wife, Kathy Harden in Rapid City and they were united in marriage on October 22, 1966. During their 56-year marriage, they had 4 children, Patricia, John Jr., Patrick, and William (Bill).
After leaving the Air Force in 1969, John joined the Rapid City Police Department. He worked at the Rapid City Police Department until 1975. John was the first certified SCUBA diver in the Rapid City Police Department. He was instrumental in the Rapid City Flood search and rescue operations.
They then moved to Montana where John held several positions in law enforcement. However, after a couple of years, John and Kathy realized that South Dakota was their home.
In 1978, John and his family moved to Belle Fourche, SD, where he was hired as the County Drug Investigator and then to the Belle Fourche Police Department where he worked for 28 years serving as a police officer, lieutenant, and finally retiring in 2006 as Chief of Police. He was a man truly devoted to public service.
John loved spending time with his family. Card nights were one of his favorites. John loved it when Trish would come to visit and dote on him with endless love or going to visit her in Colorado. He also loved going to Deadwood to Taco Johns with his oldest son, Johnny, for Taco Tuesday and rarely missed doing this for 17 years. John also really loved spending time with his youngest son Bill, usually playing video lottery and eating at Culvers.
John’s faith in God never faltered. John went through a lot of tough times, but the Lord was always there for him. When the end was near, while John was not ready to go, he knew that he was going to heaven and that brought him peace.
John is survived by his loving and devoted children: Patricia (Brad Mitchell) of Canon City, CO, John (Gidget) Wainman of Lead, SD, and Bill (Estelle) Wainman of Newell, SD; 10 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him and loving him.
In Heaven, he will be reunited with his beloved wife Kathy; his son Patrick, who died at two days old; parents, William and Mary Wainman; and six brothers and sisters.
Visitation will be held at Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche on Wednesday, May 31 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 1 at 10:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Church in Belle Fourche. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis at 1:30 pm with military honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard and the United States Air Force Honor Guard.
The family suggests memorials to the South Dakota Police Chief’s Association,907 Park Drive Belle Fourche, SD 57717.
The funeral will be published for viewing at klinefuneralchapel.com live streaming site following the funeral.
An online guest book and video tribute is available at klinefuneralchapel.com
