Wayne Allen Irick

Wayne Irick was born on October 9, 1934, in Carrington, North Dakota, to Ralph and Beatrice Irick. In 1935, the family moved to Wahpeton, ND, where his sister Judy was born. Wayne graduated from St. John's Grade School and Wahpeton High School, where he served as Junior Class President and Editor of the school newspaper. 

Wayne enjoyed a wide range of hobbies, including hunting, fishing, boat building, skiing, golf, tennis, and fencing. He spent time with his father, a farm manager, on many field trips and held a variety of jobs throughout his youth- from newspaper carrier and storm window installer to bulldozer operator, drugstore clerk, busboy, usher, pinsetter, painting contractor, and roofer. 

He began his college education in engineering at the University of North Dakota before serving in the United States Airforce from 1954 to 1956. He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from North Dakota State University in 1958. In 1956, Wayne and two fraternity brothers opened Fargo's first pizza shop. 

In 1958, Wayne met and married Carol Savageau. They moved from Fargo to Chicago, where Wayne worked as an industrial engineer for Republic Steel Corporation. Following a prolonged steel strike in 1959, they relocated to Fairbanks, Alaska. There, Wayne worked with Chandler Plumbing and Heating as an estimator, draftsman, engineer, and apprentice plumber. Fairbanks is where their daughter Paula and son Steve were born. 

In 1964, the family moved to Denver, Colorado. Wayne worked with Natkin Service Company until 1969, holding various roles including plumber, estimator, engineer, and testing and balancing supervisor. From 1969 to 1974, he was a mechanical design engineer with Swanson-Rink Consulting Engineers. He then returned to Natkin, serving as an engineer, estimator, project manager, and eventually district manager until 1995. From 1982 to 1985, Wayne and Carol lived in San Jose, California, while Wayne managed Natkin's Santa Clarita district. He concluded his career with Gerald H. Phipps, working as a mechanical estimator until his retirement in 1999. 

Over the years, Wayne earned certifications as a journeyman and master plumber and a NEBB Testing & Balancing Supervisor. He also taught plumbing apprentices, completed Dale Carnegie sales training, and served on a taskforce to revise Denver's refrigeration code. 

Wayne was an active member of numerous professional and community organizations, including ASHRAE, ASPE, NEBB, MCA, PHCC, SMACNA, JAC, ATO Fraternity, the Knights of Columbus, and the Optimist Club. 

Wayne and Carol loved to travel, visiting Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Monaco, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, and cities across the U.S., including New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and many presidential libraries. Wayne enjoyed his family, friends, home maintenance, gardening, winters in Arizona, walking, reading, puzzles, cards, movies, gourmet dining and good wine, even publishing a monthly wine guide for friends and family. He also loved his vehicles, including 3 Fords, 2 Plymouths, 3 Chevrolets, 3 Packards, 1 Nash, 3 Pontiacs, 1 Dodge, 1 Lincoln, 1 Chrysler, and 5 Buicks; and his first car was a Model T Ford that he purchased for $15, that was painted 3 different colors and had a built-in shotgun hole. 

Carol passed away in 2024 after 66 years of marriage.

Wayne is survived by his children, Paula Gutzmer and Steve Irick, both of the Denver area; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. His sister Judy preceded him in death in 2022.

Wayne will be remembered for his hard work, adventurous spirit, and devotion to his family.