Dwayne H. Senn

Reverend Dr. Dwayne Harold Senn of Wautoma, Wisconsin, passed away on March 6, 2026, following a sudden cardiac arrest while recovering from treatment for stomach cancer. Born on July 19, 1948, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Watertown, Wisconsin, to Harold Alton Senn and Elayne Dorothy (Bender) Senn, he grew up with a deep sense of faith that would guide his life’s work.

He married Ruth Bear of Plano, Iowa, on July 30, 1971, at First Baptist Church in Seymour, Iowa, after meeting her while attending Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and service. They were blessed with four children—Christian, Jennifer, Jeremy, and Jessica—and Dwayne cherished his role as “Papa” to his six grandchildren.

Dwayne graduated from Watertown High School in 1966. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Maranatha Baptist Bible College, a second bachelor’s in pre-law from Minnesota State University at Mankato, a master’s degree in political science from Michigan State University, and his doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary. Ordained to pastoral ministry by the Christian and Missionary Alliance, he served congregations in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Montana. He also devoted many years to education as a high school social studies teacher, administrator, and superintendent. A lifetime member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, he was also a certified Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder counselor.

Known affectionately as “Dewey,” he found joy in hunting, fishing, camping, boating, coin collecting, art collecting, planting trees, and cutting wood. A devoted fan of Wisconsin sports, he supported the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, and his alma mater, the Michigan State Spartans. Above all, Dwayne was a man of deep faith whose kindness, wisdom, and steady devotion to God and family touched many lives. He found particular comfort in the Scriptures, especially Romans 8 and Psalm 23.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Elaine Senn of Waupaca, Wisconsin; their children: Christian Andrew (Janene) Senn of Bath, North Carolina, and their daughters, Teryn Elizabeth (Edwin) Senn and Signe Elise Senn; Jennifer Dawn Senn of Purcell, Oklahoma; Jeremy Joshua (Willa) Senn of Mound, Minnesota, and their children, Niles David Senn and Claire Ann Senn; and Jessica Nicole (Chidi) Anyanwu of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and their children, Evangeline Kamsi Janae Anyanwu and Cohen Elijah Tochi Anyanwu. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Daniel Alan (Caroline) Senn of Watertown, Wisconsin; his sister, Carol Louise (John) Ruffin of Watertown, Wisconsin; foster brother Michael Roland (Mary) Wood of Santa Ana, California; and foster sister Shaaron Lynne Wood of Watertown, Wisconsin. Dwayne was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Elayne Senn, and his sisters, Gloria Jean Senn and Margaret Alice Senn.