Wayne A. Hafner

Wayne A. Hafner, 77, formerly of Hokah, MN, died on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Bay Harbor Assisted Living in La Crescent. Wayne was born on May 10, 1949 at St. Anne’s Hospital in La Crosse to William and Emma (Tschumper) Hafner. Wayne grew up in Hokah and attended St. Peter’s Catholic Schools and La Crescent High School. He was the first five-sport athlete in the neighborhood and was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Wayne worked at the Cheese Factory and La Crescent Nursing Home and then worked at St. Francis in La Crosse for over 20 years. In 1995 he began working at Woodland Industries in Caledonia. Wayne loved sports and took great pride in his cars. He enjoyed attending Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Gopher games with his friends. Go Gophers!

Wayne is survived by his brother Gerald (Carolyn) Hafner, two sisters, Helen Hafner and Diane Hafner Randall, his special friends Jim and Kim Scholze, nieces and nephews, DeAnne (Kurt) Krueger, Joseph (Gretchen) Randall, Kristen Hafner Malgren, and John P. (Heather) Hill, great nieces and nephews, Nicholas, Olivia, Jacob, Keira, and Henry, and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Mary Hafner, Joanne Hafner, and Lorraine Hill, and three brothers-in-law, John Randall, Jon Hill, and Paul Mikulanetz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Hokah, MN. Father John L. Evans, II will celebrate. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Hokah. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 9:30 AM until the time of service. Memorials may be given to St. Peter’s Catholic Church or Woodland Industries. Online guestbook available at www.schumacher-kish.com.