Ian M. Waits

On Saturday, October 8th, 2022, Ian M. Waits passed on suddenly at the age of 41 in Plano, TX.

Born in Clearwater, Florida on July 27, 1981, Ian grew up in Gainesville, Florida and was known for

his quirky, offbeat sense of humor, along with his penchant for sarcasm. (his motto was, “Sarcasm –

just one of the many services I offer.”) He could be counted on for always having something

interesting, funny, or irreverent to say!

Ian was very close with his beloved grandfather, Thomas R. Dann, whom he lost at the tender age of

four. Out of honor and respect for his grandfather, a WWII Army veteran and paratrooper, Ian

enlisted in the U.S. Army right after graduating in 2000 from Chamberlain High School in Tampa,

Florida. Ian even had his grandpa’s 11th Airborne Angels division insignia tattooed on his arm!

Unfortunately, Ian was forced to take an honorable medical discharge from the Army due to a leg

injury, so his attention shifted to becoming a true history buff in his adult years. His greatest passion

in history was for WWII with a special focus on the role of paratroopers in both the Pacific and

European theaters of war. He could tell you anything you wanted to know about the top WWII U.S.

officers, troops, weapons, strategies, and victories, as well as all of the details of the German

military, generals, and battles, with a depth of knowledge of the German tank fleet and the tactics

of General Rommel. Ian even named his most recent pet cat “Panzer” in recognition of the Panzer

tanks used by the German forces during the war.

Speaking of cats, Ian was a lifelong cat lover (and an overall animal lover, except spiders) and he

shared many special bonds with his feline friends over the course of his life. Also, he was a true

Germanophile in every sense of the word – both as a nod to his ancestry and his love of history.

There wasn’t a German food, beer, or dessert that he didn’t like! Ian’s other interests included

spending time with his son and stepchildren, building scale models of WWII battleships such as the

Japanese flagship Yamamoto, reading, woodworking, all things Star Wars (right down to his Darth

Vader cooking apron), enjoying good food, drink, and brewing specialty coffees. Also, he was a

diehard Florida Gators football fan – GO GATORS!

Employed for many years as a long haul truck driver for Yellow Roadway Company, Ian was a proud

Teamster throughout his decades-long career. His occupation enabled him to travel to many parts

of the USA and see virtually all fifty states, minus Alaska and Hawaii, of course!

Ian will be forever remembered and dearly missed by his son, Declan Waits, his mother, Jarilyn

Waits-Pusz, his ex-wife, Valerie Bernier, his stepchildren, Matthew Bernier, Asher Bernier, and

Nadia McClanathan, his sister, Ashleigh Jenkins, his father, William Waits, his niece, Brooklyn

Jenkins and his brother-in-law, Craig Jenkins, his uncle, Joseph Arboritanza, his aunt Laurie and

uncle Bruce Noe, his uncle Kreg Waits, his cousin, Dan Cunningham, his girlfriend, Tammy McLeod,

his many cousins across the country, and last, but certainly not least, his lifelong best friend, Andy

Kleinfeldt. Ian was predeceased by his beloved stepfather, Michael L. Pusz, his grandparents, Donna

and Thomas R. Dann, and Verna and William Waits, and his uncle, Thomas E. Dann.