Dewaine Seets

Dewaine Seets of Fulton, Missouri, peacefully passed away on Monday, November 21, 2022, with his family encircling him with love. He was born on March 22, 1938, near Harrisburg, Illinois, son of Thomas Beecher and Mattie Mabel Seets. In seventh grade, Dewaine met Carolyn Sue Simmons and their love story began. Despite moving to Peoria, Illinois, three years later, they continued their courtship, Dewaine traveling “Long Distance” (which he later was nicknamed), every opportunity he could get. On June 7, 1958, he and Carolyn were united in marriage in Marion, Illinois. As a first-generation college student, Dewaine graduated in 1960 with a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Later, he was stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia as an officer in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, a branch of the Navy, where he had interesting experiences in Africa, Brazil, and Alaska. For over 20 years, he was employed by CE Refractories in St. Louis while raising his family in Belleville, Illinois. In 1985, he relocated to Fulton, Missouri for employment by Ameren UE, as a Quality Control Supervisor for the Callaway Nuclear Plant, until his retirement in 2004. Dewaine was an ordained minister in the Community of Christ church, (formerly RLDS), where he served in many leadership capacities for over 50 years. He also contributed his skills of design and taught volunteer crews to assist in the construction of facilities for the benefit of countless kids and families attending churches and camps. He was also active in the Fulton community, most notably serving as the chair for the Optimist Club’s annual fish fry for about 10 years. He loved communing with nature and wildlife, whether gardening at his property or traveling to many national and state parks, which he cherished. He was a compassionate, gentle soul, deeply devoted to God and his family, a loving husband and father, an incredible role model, and a friend to all. “Wayne and Susie” enhanced the spiritual life of those who interacted with them during their 64-year marriage which produced four children, three grandchildren, one great grandchild, and one grand dog. A celebration of life and legacy will be planned for spring of 2023, but condolences to the family may be posted immediately on the website for Maupin Funeral Home in Fulton.