Robert Wayne Acton

Collison – Robert Wayne Acton, 76, of Collison passed away at 3:25 PM on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL. He was born on May 15, 1950, in Danville to Robert L. and Leone (Liggett) Acton. He married Deanna R. Armantrout on August 29, 1971, in Potomac. She survives.

Also surviving are three children, Jessica (Ted) Hartke of Sidney, Justin (Lisa) Acton of Rossville, and Jared (Kari Fowler) Acton of Collison; and five grandchildren, Phillip, Sophia, Ava, Ella, and Cooper.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a grandson, Gabriel Hartke.

After High School, Wayne went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education from Illinois State University. His career was varied but always centered around his vast knowledge of the agricultural industry. Wayne shared this passion as an Ag Teacher at Oakwood High School before moving to livestock and ag equipment sales. He also operated the family farm where they specialized in raising Beefalo cattle. Wayne served as the Vice President of the American Beefalo Association due to his expertise with the breed. As a stroke survivor, Wayne volunteered as a lobbyist for the American Heart Association to support improved treatment options for stroke patients. He also worked in real estate as a realtor and broker.

Wayne loved the community he lived in and served as the Pilot Township Clerk and on the Middlefork Pilot Multi-Township Assessment District Board. He was a lifetime member of the Collison United Methodist Church and was recently honored as a 50-year member of the Collison Masonic Lodge. Music was also a very important part of Wayne’s life. With his band, Latigo, and other bands he performed with such as the Tumble Weeds and Yesterday’s Country, he played at numerous events such as the CU Arts Festival, several Cowboy Country Churches, and he organized outdoor concerts during the summer months at the Collison Masonic Lodge. He was a long-time Lions Club member and organizer of their annual “Potomac Goes Country” music show and later their “Let’s go Country” music shows. He received multiple songwriting awards and recognitions and a music video award and was President of the Illinois Group in the North America Country Music Associations International (NACMAI). He invested his time and support in grade school music programs to pass his love of music on to future generations.

Most of all, Wayne loved his family and enjoyed being present with them whenever he could. He will be missed dearly by them all.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Wayne Acton will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Pilot Township Community Building in Collison, IL with visitation prior to the service held from 1:30-3:00 pm. Family and friends are invited to gather for a dinner and additional time for visitation from 5:00-8:00 pm that same evening. He will be laid to rest at Collison Cemetery. Cremation has been entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N. Vermilion St., Danville, IL 61834. In lieu of flowers, memorials made in Wayne’s name may be made to the Collison United Methodist Church (PO Box 103, Collison, IL, 61831) or to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in St. Louis (Hope Lodge, 4207 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108).

Please join Wayne’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos of his life through his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.