Wayne died peacefully on Aug. 24, at his home after a prolonged illness. He was surrounded by members of his family and his Hospice nurse.

He was born on Nov. 20, 1938, in Sedalia, Missouri. He was the only child of Nadine M. (Hausam) Peak and George W. Peak.

Wayne was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado  in Boulder in 1961, whereupon he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He served three years aboard the USS Midway, making several cruises to the Far East. He was discharged in June 1964, with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

On July 25, 1964, he married Susan E. Ferguson of Edmunds, Washington. They had two sons, Christopher Burns Peak and Jeffrey Wade Peak.

Wayne received a PhD in political science from the University of Oregon in 1971 and joined the faculty of Virginia Tech. In 1974 he and his family moved to Fort Collins where he joined the faculty of Colorado State University. He remained at CSU until his retirement in 2003, having served as chair of the Department of Political Science from 1993 to 2003.

Wayne is succeeded by his wife, Susan; sons, Christopher (Eden) of Seattle, Washington, Jeffrey (Katy) of Palisade, Colorado; four grandchildren: Clara and August of Seattle and Huxley and Simon of Palisade.

Wayne requested that no memorial service be held but that friends toast his memory with a nice glass of wine.