Wayne Allen Zulkowski transitioned peacefully on July 24, 2021 at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana while in the loving care of his wife of over 40 years, Elen, and daughter, Diana.  After battling multiple health concerns for some time, his final days were without pain or struggle. He was born on June 10, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois.  Wayne was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a proud thirty-year veteran of the United States Air Force.

After graduating from Crown Point high school in 1956, Wayne elected to serve his country by joining the Air Force in 1958 and honorably remained until his retirement in 1988.  His interest in airplanes was his encouragement to join the Air Force branch of service.  While in training, he chose to focus his studies to become a flight and electronics engineer which proved to be a critical position to assist pilots to overcome dangerous situations during the Vietnam war. Wayne would often fondly recount funny stories about working on and maintaining the C-47, affectionately known as the "Gooney Bird."  As a Vietnam war veteran, Wayne received various medals and commendations for excellence and his committed service to National Defense in the US Air Force. Though he flew to many more countries on TDY, Wayne was stationed most of his military service overseas on Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, and a short time on Oahu, Hawaii.  Later in his Air Force career, he continued to further his education through Air University and achieved Senior Noncommissioned Officer status and graduated with honors in telecommunications and management. However, the highlight of Wayne's military career was always when he was flying.

Wayne's additional hobbies included being with his wife and family, attending his grandchildren's sports events, tinkering in his workroom fixing things, coin collecting, a competitive bowling champion, watching old Westerns and James Bond movies, keeping an impeccable lawn, and being a member of the Naptown & White River Model Railroad Club. He was fascinated by trains since he was a young boy. This childhood fascination with trains into adulthood was the impetus for Wayne to begin his collection of the HO scale model trains and later becoming an active member of the NWR model railroad club.

The memory of Wayne will be cherished by his wife, Elen; his four children and spouses Diana (Marcus), Dennis, Patrick (Mandy), and Gerald (Nicole), his eight grandchildren: Randi, Logan, Jessica, Kail, Easton, Eli, Jax, and Kai; Wayne's sister, Arlene; additionally, the extended friends and family abroad and domestic whereby many of whom call Wayne, "Ski," Uncle, and Grandpa.

Along with his mother, Violet M. Trees and stepfather, I. D. "Bud" Trees, Wayne is preceded in death by his father Stanley R. Zulkowski and extended family.

Funeral and Burial Services is Thursday, July 29, 2021.  Funeral services will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home: 1977 South State Road 135, Greenwood, 46143. Visitation is 10am to 11am and Spiritual Service is 11am to 12pm.  At 1pm, the Military Honors Veteran's Services and burial will be held at Lincoln Memory Gardens: 6851 S. Indianapolis Road, Whitestown, 46075.