Wayne Stenson

Wayne Matt Stenson, age 63, of Maple Grove, died unexpectedly on Saturday October 13, 2018 at Abbott Heart Hospital in Minneapolis from complications of a blood infection.

He was born on February 10, 1955 in Fargo, ND, to Walter and Vivian (Mattson) Stenson of Moorhead, MN. As a child, his most precious possession was his library card. Wayne's love for reading was evident all through his school years and created a lifelong love of learning. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1973 and from Moorhead State University in 1978.

Wayne was brilliant and accomplished. As a college student he co-founded EVAC (Emergency Vehicle Assistance and Communications), a volunteer run, non-profit, that assists the Fargo/Moorhead community with emergency response. It is still operating today. After graduating from college he was hired by Honeywell in Minneapolis. He worked in their Avionics plant as a network engineer for nearly 30 years. At his death he was working for Delta Airlines as their Senior IT Security Engineer. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Internetwork Services, one of the first internet service providers in Minnesota. The SANS Institute included Wayne on their listing of the nation's top internet security experts. He was often consulted, quoted in print, and relied upon for his unique and vast expertise. His children relied upon him for his wisdom in all things.

Wayne and Shelly Sjolie were married in 1977 and had two children, Joshua and Tiffany Ann. Wayne was the rock they built their family on. He loved spending time at the family lake home. It's where he taught his children to fish, to ski, to drive a boat, and to be good people. He taught his children the value of community from his work as an Osseo Lion. He was a grill master at the pork chop feeds, was a fixture at the pancake breakfasts and took care of Wally, the animatronic lion mascot.

He was preceded in death by only three days by his mother, Vivian Stenson; by his father, Walter Stenson; and his former wife, Shelly Sjolie Stenson. He is survived by his children, Josh (Shelley) Stenson and Tiffany Ann (Doug) Gorton, sister, Vickie (Todd) Josal; grandchildren, Emma Gorton, Avery Gorton, Carter Erickson, Paige Erickson, and Vivian Rose Stenson; nephews and nieces; and close friends that he loved as family.