In Rememberance

John Wainman, Sr.

Long-time South Dakota Law Enforcement Officer and Former Belle Fourche Chief of Police

John Joseph  Wainman, 78, of  Belle Fourche,  passed away at  Monument Health  Rapid City Hospital  on May 17, 2023,  after an unforeseen  diagnosis of cancer.  All three of his  loving children were by his side when  he passed.

John was born April 7, 1945, in Gary,  Indiana, the seventh of 10 children. He  joined the U.S. Air Force in June 1965  and was assigned to the base police  squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base,  near Rapid City, SD, after basic training.

John met his wife, Kathy Harden, in  Rapid City and they were united in marriage on Oct. 22, 1966. During their  56-year marriage, they had four children,  Patricia (Trish), John Jr., Patrick, and  William (Bill).

After leaving the Air Force in 1969, John  joined the Rapid City Police Department  where he served until 1975. John was  the fi rst certifi ed SCUBA diver in the  Rapid City Police Department. He was  instrumental in the Rapid City Flood  search and rescue operations.

After a short move to Montana, John and  Kathy realized that South Dakota was  their home and moved to Belle Fourche,  SD, in 1978. John worked as the County  Drug Investigator before joining the Belle  Fourche Police Department where he  worked for 28 years serving as a police  offi  cer, lieutenant, and fi nally retiring in  2006 as Chief of Police. He was a man  truly devoted to public service.

John’s service and dedication inspired  the Chief John Wainman, Sr. Service  Award, which is given annually by the  South Dakota Police Chiefs’ Association  to recognize an officer for their high  standards and contributions to law enforcement in South Dakota.

John loved spending time with his family.  Card nights were one of his favorites.  John loved it when his daughter Trish  would come to visit and dote on him  with endless love or going to visit her  in Colorado. He also loved going to  Deadwood to Taco Johns with his oldest  son, Johnny, for Taco Tuesday and rarely  missed doing this for 17 years. John  also really loved spending time with his  youngest son Bill, usually playing video  lottery and eating at Culvers.

Mass of Christian Burial was held June  1 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Belle  Fourche. Inurnment followed at Black  Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis  with military honors provided by the Belle  Fourche Veterans Honor Guard and the  United States Air Force Honor Guard.

The family suggests memorials to the  South Dakota Police Chief's Association,  907 Park Drive Belle Fourche, SD 57717.

The funeral video is available for viewing  at klinefuneralchapel.com, as well as an  online guestbook and video tribute. ■