DuWayne Paul Jirava, long time resident of Ritzville Washington passed away Jan. 3rd 2025. Wayne was born Feb. 4th 1937 in Pelham Minnesota. His family farmed 5 miles West of Ogema Minnesota where he started school at the age of 6 in a 1 room school house, 1/2 mile from the home, so there were enough kids to justify a teacher. In 1945 the family moved to Sprague Washington where his maternal grandmother and uncle had moved earlier. The family then moved to Washtucna Washington in 1948 where his father ran the Potlatch Lumber Yard. There they lived above the lumber yard store where he raised squab in the rafters of the lumber shed. He also got the nickname Potlatch while living there. In 1950 they moved to Ritzville where again his father ran the Potlatch Lumber Yard there. As soon as he could he started working for area farmers. From driving tractors to hauling sheep and harvesting green peas in Dayton Washington for Green Giant.

In 1955 he quit school and joined the U.S. Coast Guard, 4 years active and 2 in the reserves. He was stationed over seas at the time in Honolulu Hawaii and Osaka Japan.

In 1959 he married Shirley Miller and started farming with his Father In-law. He and Shirley had 3 sons Ronald Paul, Alan John and Tracy Gene Jirava.

In 1974 he married Terry Geschke and adopted her 6 year old daughter Michelle.

In 1981 Wayne retired from farming and went to work in Ritzville doing auto repair and body work for Ritzville Automotive. When they closed he went to work at Herbs Body Shop until it closed and he retired in 2002.

After retiring he when to work part time helping his son Ron on the farm until spring of 2024 when driving became difficult.

He was preceded in death by his parents Vincent and Beulah Jirava, his brother Roger, and his wife Terry.

He leaves behind sons Ron, Alan and grandson John, and Tracy. Daughter Michelle Jirava-Schaefer (Kurt) and grandchildren Cassandra and Hunter Johnson.