- Date Of Birth: November 28, 1936
- Date Of Death: May 7, 2008
- State: Illinois
W. Wayne Briggs – beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend – passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at his home in Virginia. He was 71.
Wayne’s destiny as a family man was sealed the moment he saw Judy Terwilliger. They were married on September 11, 1959, and began a memorable partnership of equals that endured nearly half a century and continues even now in the hearts of those it blessed.
A sense of beauty, as well as humor, permeated his life. A skilled arborist and gardener, Wayne enjoyed planting trees and flowers – and occasionally did so in unsuspecting yards. An imaginative artist and talented builder, he was known for constructing patios, playhouses, and arbors to better enjoy the outdoors. A backyard gazebo he built for Judy in 1982 was later the backdrop for several weddings. Wayne was also known for the many signs he carved for family, friends, and various organizations.
Wayne was born November 28, 1936, in Versailles, the son of Wendall C. and Beulah Baker Briggs. Upon graduation from Virginia High School, Wayne attended The Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri where he studied civil engineering. Wayne worked as an appraiser for the Illinois Department of Transportation until 1966 when he began appraising commercial real estate independently. He attended specialized appraisal classes throughout the United States and was a designated Member of the Appraisal Institute as well as an Accredited Rural Appraiser through the Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Wayne was a partner in the firm of Kienzler, Briggs and Company in Springfield, Illinois until 1996, when he became sole owner of Briggs Appraisal Associates in Jacksonville. A gifted professional whose services were always in demand, he was fondly known by his peers as the appraising guru of central Illinois.
Wayne’s willingness to serve extended well beyond his professional career. Soft-spoken and hardworking, he was an active member of the United Methodist Church, where he had served as a teacher and committee member locally as well as in the Central Illinois Conference. Always willing to help, he was a verba in Cass County where he worked on various boards and filled volunteer needs. With Wayne, fun just naturally happened. He had a quick sense of humor and was an open door to the feelings of others.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Judy; three daughters, Sally Ann (husband, Byron) Stock of Arenzville, Sue Ann (husband, Nozomu) Ishimori of Irmo, South Carolina, and Jill Ann Briggs of Arenzville; six grandchildren, Wendy and John Love, Aika and Koji Wayne Ishimori, Lydia Reither, and Isaac French; four step-grandchildren, Aaron French, Becky Holt, Jennifer Stock, and Amy Covington; and many nieces, nephews, two aunts, two uncles, cousins, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dean (surviving wife, Donna).
