Rev. Dr. Wayne Everett Purintun, 90, retired Presbyterian pastor, General Presbyter, and outstanding Father, Grandfather, husband, teacher, and dear friend to many, died on September 10 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash, where his wife, Dorothy Lou Purintun (Holmes), also passed in 2002.

Wayne was born in Hazelton, North Dakota, on May 27, 1936, to Mark and Frances (Ross) Purintun. He was their second son. He grew up on the Purintun family farm with his brother Frank and later sister Mary Lou.

Wayne went to Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota.

After graduation, Wayne went to San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. There, Wayne not only applied himself to becoming a minister, he also met the love of his life, Dorothy Holmes. They were married on June 18, 1960.

Wayne graduated in June of 1961. They had their first son, Michael, July 4, 1961, and left almost immediately as Wayne had a call to a church in Manhattan, Montana. A year and a half later, they welcomed Marc to the family on November 16, 1962. Shortly thereafter, they left Montana for Hopkins, Minnesota.

To round out the family, their son, Matthew, was born on August 14, 1964.

In 1968, the family moved to Cincinnati when Wayne’s brother-in-law, Hugh Miller (Marjorie Holmes) helped him find a position in the presbytery. Wayne accepted the position as pastor of the Springdale Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. The family lived in nearby Forest Park.

In 1972, Wayne was trained as a redivision therapist by Bob and Mary Goulding at the Western Institute for Group and Family Therapy. Serving as a pastor and a therapist, he also supervised other therapists.

In the 80s, Wayne took a job at the Presbytery of Cincinnati and became a pastor to pastors. He met his life-long spiritual friend, Bart Brenner, and together they built a community of pastors that were mutually supportive of one another.

Wayne also pursued a Doctor of Ministry from the Ecumenical Theological Center in Detroit, MI.

After several years, and a change of leadership at the presbytery, Wayne applied for a position as the General Presbyter at Minnesota Valleys Presbytery in Willmar, MN. Wayne and Dot moved back north, and often said they felt at home there.

His primary passions as a church leader were for justice and spiritual formation.

In 2001, Dot was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, 21 months later, in October of 2002, she passed. While Wayne was devastated at the illness and death, he continued his work in Minnesota for two years before retiring to Cincinnati to be nearer his sons and grandchildren.

In his retirement, Wayne continued to spend time with his grandchildren, Emily Townley, Nathan Purintun, Elizabeth Anne Purintun, and Samuel Purintun, and his sons Michael (Louisville, KY), Marc (Richmond, VA) and his husband Van Baskins, and Matthew (Cincinnati) and his wife Susan, and with his dear friend, Bart Brenner (St Louis, MO), and his pastors group including David Lowry, David Sawyer (Deborah Fortel), and Tim Jones (Gretchen).

While Wayne always kept the memory of his wife in his heart, he continued to engage with family, friends, and to make new acquaintances. In 2019, Wayne and Bart published a book, Stirring Waters, based on their spiritual exploration and thoughts. Wayne’s son Michael was the first editor of the book, and their friend David Sawyer wrote the forward.

In August of 2026, after a short hospitalization for pneumonia, Wayne travelled with his sons and their families to Hazelton, North Dakota, to visit the family farm and the cemetery where Dot was buried. He visited with his nephew Jim and his wife Corene, and enjoyed spending time with his sister-in-law Marlene, and with nephews Rory and Keith Humann and their father Larry Humann. Then the family went to the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.

After Wayne returned to Cincinnati, he remarked to his son Marc that he had done all he set out to do. Shortly thereafter, he was hospitalized with double pneumonia, and after two weeks in the hospital and a loss of over 20 pounds, he moved to Hospice of Cincinnati’s inpatient care unit in Blue Ash.

Wayne is survived by his sister-in-law, Marlene (Rau), his brother-in-law (Larry), his sons, Michael, Marc (Van Baskins), and Matthew (Susan); and his grandchildren Emily Townley (Chicago, IL), Nathan Purintun (Madison, IN), Elizabeth Anne (Madison, IN), and Samuel (Huntsville, AL).

Wayne Purintun will be laid to rest September 25th at the family plot in Linton, North Dakota. A brief memorial will be held at the Methodist church in Linton, at 10:30 am, followed by the burial.

Expressions of sorrow or memorial gifts may be made to: Hospice of Cincinnati-Blue Ash https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/locations/blue-ash; Southern Poverty Law Center https://splcenter.org; the National Park Foundation https://give.nationalparks.org/site/Donation2; or the church or charity of your choice.