Wayne Sangren

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Wayne B. Sangren, age 79, of Ventura, California who passed away on October 27, 2024. 

 Wayne was born on May 8, 1945, to Walter C. Sangren and Welda H. Rowe Sangren in San Gabriel, CA. He was the first baby born in Los Angeles on VE Day, which marked the official end of WWII in Europe. Wayne graduated from Rosemead High School, received his AA degree from Pasadena City College and then attended Cal State LA. He left college early to work in the family business, Mojave Granite, which was started in 1915 when the family immigrated from Sweden. Wayne expanded the grave markers business to include granite surface plates and fabricating specialty pieces for the aircraft industry and the NASA Space Program. He took over as President of the company when his father retired where he remained until his own retirement in 2010 after working for 44 years. 

 Wayne's first son, Scott, was born during his first marriage to Linda Basaites. After his divorce, Wayne met his wife Janet in La Conchita. Coincidentally, they both attended the Swedish Baptist General Conference Church in different cities. They had two sons, Jon and Kristopher and lived in various cities in Ventura County until Janet and Wayne moved back to La Conchita to live in her family home, full circle from where they met. An avid gardener throughout his life, Wayne enjoyed transforming the yards of every home he lived in with precision and elegance. He loved trips to the coastal towns of California and Hawaii with his family. Staying in the tiny 400 sq.ft. weekend home in Morro Bay that he and Janet remodeled was a highlight in his retirement. 

 Wayne was a great lover of sports and instilled that same love in his sons. They took a "guys trip" to Cooperstown, New York and surrounding areas, enjoying baseball games in some of the oldest stadiums. Wayne was active in the YMCA Indian Guides and Thousand Oaks Little League with son Jon. He coached many years in the Conejo Valley Little League while his son Kris was playing baseball. A big fan of the Brooklyn and LA Dodgers, Wayne would have been very excited to see the World Series with the Dodgers and Yankees. We know the Dodgers win was for Wayne. His sons will always cherish the summer vacations in the tent trailer and orange and white van going to California State campgrounds along the coast from Big Sur, Bodega Bay, Henry Cowell Redwoods to MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. 

 After suffering a heart attack on Thanksgiving week of 2012, his long illness began, and it was a journey he chose not to share with his extended family until the last 2 years of his life. His wife Janet was his caregiver until June 2024, at which point he needed more extensive care. Even throughout his battle with Lewy Body Dementia, Wayne's wonderful sense of humor and loving nature persevered. Neighbors and caregivers talk about his infectious laugh and upbeat attitude. 

 He always loved his Rock and Roll, Beatles, Abba, etc until this year when the only CD he wanted to hear was the Booth Brothers Tribute to the songs written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Those songs helped him with the final walk of his journey. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. 

 Wayne is survived by his wife of 50 years Janet; son Scott, wife Brandy and their children Drew, Abby, and Cole of Garden Grove; son Jon, wife Karina and son Noah of Santa Clarita; son Kristopher and wife Bojana of Simi Valley; His brother Wes, wife Kim and family. 

 Donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in lieu of flowers, in his memory. 

www.lbda.org