WAYNE MARTIN MAHANA

MAHANA, GERBER

Posted By: Gloria J. Henry (email)
Date: 8/25/2005 at 15:47:30

WAYNE MARTIN MAHANA
Wayne Martin Mahana was a man of strength and determination who looked at life positively. He was a loving husband, caring father, and a leader within his community.
Wayne was born in the decade of the Roaring Twenties when liquor prohibition gave rise to speakeasies and bootlegging and Flapper fashions invaded the social scene. Jazz was hot, Vaudeville was going strong, and the Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting on the radio. Charles Lindbergh made his historic transatlantic flight and women won the right to vote in a national election. But, in Iowa City, Iowa , a most welcome event for Grover and Catherine (Gerber) Mahana was the birth of their first and only child, Wayne Martin, on March 22, 1925. Grover and Catherine built a loving and stable home for their son. Some might call it enviable since their house was right across the street from a candy store. And what could be better for any child than having a mother who worked at a candy factory? Maybe it was already then that Wayne developed a love for sweets, especially chocolate covered cherries and ice cream. Less to his liking would have been the product of his mother’s other job in a dress shop. If the lure of engines and tools was more to his liking, Wayne could hang out in his dad’s auto shop where Grover ran his own business as a mechanic.
Growing up, Wayne had lots of friends and many interests. He was an active Boy Scout, especially enjoying the camping trips that taught him skills that he would use throughout his life. Wayne passed along his commitment to scouting to his own family. Being an Eagle Scout himself, Wayne was particularly proud of his son and grandson when they achieved Eagle Scout status as well.
While in high school, Wayne took a job that would have some staying power in his life. He became an usher at a local movie theater. Then, to earn money in college, Wayne again worked at the theaters. Later, he became the manager of the first drive-in theater in the entire state of Iowa. Even when he moved to Davenport, Iowa, he continued to work in movie theaters. Who knew theaters better than Wayne? Interestingly, on his first date with his future wife, Wayne did not take her to a movie. Rather, he and the lovely Margaret Lee went to the Butterfly Café in Cedar Rapids. With Margaret being in the ninth grade, her mother only let her go with this senior because they double-dated with someone Mom knew well. Good thing. Margaret missed her curfew by a half hour because the drive from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City took 45 minutes. That was the night of Wayne’s graduation from City High School in 1943, and shortly after, Wayne left Iowa City to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Wayne joined the Army Air Corps, flying C-47s “over the hump”, the Himalaya Mountains in south central Asia. These were dangerous missions: the mountains were higher than the planes were meant to fly, and the peaks were often covered in cloud. Wayne said they lost more guys flying over the hump than in battles of war. He also flew B-25s as a top turret radio gunner throughout China, Burma, and India. World War II was a harrowing experience for any soldier, but in years to come Wayne would never talk about the bad times. He preferred to focus on what good could be done, like taking a young Chinese boy under his wing. As evidenced by the picture Wayne kept of the boy, this relationship made a lasting impression on Wayne.
In 1946, Wayne completed his military duties and returned to Iowa City. He and Margaret had corresponded during his years of service, but they became more serious when they could spend time together. Both Wayne and Margaret attended the University of Iowa in 1946-1947 where their relationship grew, and they were married on August 10, 1947 at the Iowa City Presbyterian Church. Not too far from home, but an exciting world away, the newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Chicago. Wayne and Margaret would later live in Chicago as well as Milwaukee and then Carmel, where they spent most of their married life. Wayne and Margaret began their family in 1950 with the birth of their dear son Steven. Adding to the family’s joy were their daughters Carolyn and Deborah.
Besides managing a drive-in theater, Wayne worked as a salesperson for Standard Brands and the Clopay Corporation. At the time, he also worked at his hobby: photography. The more he took photos—weddings, portraits, modeling portfolios—and processed the pictures in his own dark room, the more interested he became in photography as a profession. He started out photographing the local school sports scene for a free weekly publication, the Carmel News Journal. When the Journal was purchased by the Topics, Wayne was brought into the Noblesville Ledger, also owned by the Topics. At the Ledger, Wayne continued primarily as a sports photographer until his retirement in 1994.
When Wayne wasn’t working, he was camping, fishing, canoeing, gardening, or playing cards (Pinochle). He and Margaret were in a Poker club. What does it tell you when Margaret bid and everyone folded?
Wayne’s family remembers trips to Hills Lake in Wautoma, Wisconsin where they spent many summers fishing, swimming, and enjoying camp fires. It’s where Wayne taught his son Steve to fish. It’s also where Debbie, aged 3, ran down the dock and jumped in the lake. Wayne was quick to respond and rescued the scared little girl. Maybe this is part of the reason Wayne’s family remember him as strong, protective, and good in a crisis. These were also the times that made for great stories. Wayne was a good storyteller and loved to talk. He was an able leader, particularly as a Sea Scout leader while in Davenport, but also with a bunch of guys who wanted to go canoeing and camping in Canada but knew nothing about either. Being a good “Scout”, Wayne was always prepared to make the out-of-doors a great experience for friends and family. Trips to Hills Lake for his family couldn’t be contained in one week, so gradually they extended their relaxation to two weeks.
In his retirement he loved to garden and tended daily to the many plants and flowers that beautified his home where he resided with his wife and family for over thirty years.
Wayne Mahana enjoyed the simple life and was an example of living simply and peacefully. A plain pocket watch became a cherished possession because it belonged to his father who was given it by the railroad. Wayne was strong and willful, but at the same time he never got upset over little things. He was a man of character and good will who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Catherine Mahana. Mr. Mahana is survived by his wife of 58 years, Margaret W. (Lee) Mahana; his son Steven W. (Brenda) Mahana; his daughters Carolyn J. Odom, Deborah L. (Chris) Frayer; his grandchildren Chris, Katie, Seth, Corey, Kent, Joy, and Shelly; his great-granddaughter Mackenzie.
Funeral services will be held in the Carmel United Methodist church on Saturday August 27, at 10:00 am. Friends may call Friday from 4 to 8 pm in Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Smith Carmel Chapel. Memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Mahana’s name to the Indiana University School of Medicine, Pulmonary Dept.

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