Wayland Lee Renner

Wayland Lee Renner, 87, of Corsicana, Texas, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026, with his daughter and son-in-law by his side. Wayland was born on January 7, 1939, to Alfond and Bessie Renner of Nelsonville, Texas. He spent his childhood working on his family's farm and ranch. He helped plant and harvest corn and cotton beginning around the age of seven, with memories of hand-picking cotton and filling up his tote sack, while also daily tending to the sheep, pigs, chickens, and cattle, and helping his mother care for her large garden. He went to school in Bellville, elementary through high school, until he graduated in 1958. He played football throughout the years. During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, Wayland served as a member of the Texas Army National Guard. His military footprint was deeply tied to Bellville's localized involvement in the Cold War. He was part of Bellville's local National Guard Unit - Company C, 386Th Engineer Battalion Combat Unit, popularly known in Austin County history as the "Bellville 49ers". In October 1961, as tensions escalated over the Berlin Wall, President John F. Kennedy federalized his unit alongside the 49Th Armored Division. Wayland and his fellow local guardsmen were mobilized into active U.S. Army Duty. He was deployed with his unit to Fort Polk, Louisiana, where they underwent rigorous combat readiness training to reinforce U.S. forces until they were deactivated and returned home in August 1962. On February 8, 1964, he married Vivian Zatopek and they had one daughter Elizabeth. Wayland and Vivian were married 49 years before her passing in 2013. In her last days, Wayland would read Psalms 23 out of his mother's Bible to her. There are several chapters marked in Psalms in his mother's Bible, which we believe he sought and found comfort from. He continued with his daily Bible study and read until he could no longer remember or couldn't find his glasses. Almost at the end of every visit we'd sat "see you soon or see you later" and he would respond, "if the Good Lord wills". Wayland lived a simple life, and it was the simple things he enjoyed the most. He loved his family, loved to cook barbeque, hunt, fish, anything outdoors, and played on a men's softball team in the 1970's. He was a big practical joker. He loved to play pranks on people, speak to them in German or Czech when he knew they couldn't understand him, and was also skilled at making animal sounds that his grandkids loved to hear, even his great grandchildren. He was not a complainer and always did the best with what he had. Wayland is survived by his daughter Elizabeth (Todd) McGraw; his granddaughters Katie (Jacob) Selby and Lainie 9Ethan) Bredmeyer; four great grandkids; brother Kenneth (Rosalie) Renner; nephew Jerral (Cindy) Johnson and their family.

Wayland Lee Renner

January 7, 1939 - August 26, 2026