Obituary of Wayne F. Dusharm

GOUVERNEUR- Wayne F. Dusharm, age 64, of Gouverneur, passed away on Friday, July 22, 2016 at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley. Wayne was born on December 19, 1951 in Gouverneur to the late Clyde F. and Beatrice M. (McIntosh) Dusharm. He attended school at New York State School for the Deaf in Rome, NY at the age of three and graduated in 1971. He lost his hearing as a toddler due to meningitis. While attending the school of the deaf, at the age of 16 he lost his vision in his right eye due to a BB gun shot wound. While he was at school he was active in sports. He particularly loved playing basketball and won many awards. After graduation, he started working at Dodds Motors Corp. detailing cars. He left Dodds and started working at the Tribune Press, and there he found his love for graphic design. He married Cheryl Sullivan in 1976. The marriage ended in divorce, but the couple remained friends. After his divorce, he decided to pursue his love of graphic design and attended St. Paul T.V.I. Prep School for the Deaf in St. Paul, MN from 1979-1980, receiving a certificate as a Master Printer. He enrolled in Iowa Western Community College in 1980-1982, receiving his Associates Degree in Graphic Arts Design. After graduating, he moved to Brookings, SD, working at Daktronics, making scoreboards and electrical signs. He moved to Madison, WI for a short time doing odd jobs, then moved back to New York in 1985. He started working at Compas in Ogdensburg leaving due to eye strain. He worked at the NYSARC bottle redemption center and then went to work at Service Master in Gouverneur. His final place of employment and where he retired from was at the Gouverneur Cemetery Association. Wayne is survived by his siblings, Gary and Carol Dusharm, Brookings, SD, Rodney Dusharm of Gouverneur and Darlene and Gregg Gonyeau of Gouverneur; nieces and nephews, Rhonda VanOrnam, Christopher, Jeremy, Kevin, and Daryl Dusharm, Jessica Gardner, Mandy Perrin, Melissa Hall, Melissa Woodward, Gaige and Garrison Gonyeau; nine great nieces and nephews and three great-great nephews. Wayne's disabilities did not keep him from living a full, adventurous life. He was an avid Yankee, Minnesota Viking, Syracuse Orangeman fan. He loved his friends, family and he loved to travel. Calling hours for Wayne will be on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. with the funeral immediately following at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Orville Eacker officiating. Burial will follow at East Riverside Cemetery. Wayne loved animals, so in lieu of flowers, please make a monetary donation or a food donation to the Friends for Pound Paws, P.O. Box 394, Gouverneur, NY 13642.