Brent Douglas Payne was born January 1, 1969 to Richard and Janice (Stephens) Payne in Hamburg, Iowa. He was welcomed by three siblings and a large extended family. Childhood highlights include annual holiday gatherings with his many rowdy cousins who were his first friends and teammates.
Brent’s dad christened him “Coach” after observing his on the field leadership. Brent was known for his competitive spirit and played bas ketball, football, and baseball throughout his childhood and for Hamburg High School. He showed his selfconfidence and willingness to try something new by acting in school plays and singing in swing choir. Brent’s mischievous and endearing personality made him well respected and liked by his peers and adults. He was a passionate Nebraska Cornhuskers, Dallas Cowboys, Boston Red Sox, and Boston Celtics fan. In the fall of 1987 Brent entered UNL and joined Sigma Nu. Many of his fraternity brothers are his closest life-long friends. Brent had a serious car accident in the summer of 1988 that required a year of recovery, yet it also provided life-long health challenges. His learned skills of resilience, determination, and optimism were assets as he completed his BA in Business Administration.
Brent met his beloved Ann Tierney in 1998 and the devoted couple were married on December 3, 1999. The Payne family was blessed when Ann and her young sons Sam and Nick Distefano joined the family. Their youngest son, Jackson, was born on August 17, 2001. Whether it was sports, school, or new job opportunities Brent was always there for the boys as a role model, mentor, and friend.
Brent was a committed husband and father who made his family the center of his world. As the boys grew up, he humorously cajoled to ensure they trusted him enough to honestly share their lives. He was willing to listen, give good advice and always made his family laugh. Brent was genuinely interested in knowing the boys’ friends and engaging them in conversations that made them feel understood and welcome. Brent, Ann, and the boys loved their vacations in the
Brent, Ann, and the boys loved their vacations in the sun, but Brent and Ann also cherished their alone time in Jamaica. Brent unexpectedly passed away on June 11, 2022. It is fitting that he spent the last week of his life in the place he loved with the love of his life. Brent was proud of his many nieces and nephews, and they love him very much.
He was preceded in death by his father Richard Payne and survived by his mother, Janice (Stephens) Payne, brother Charles (Dana) Payne, and sisters Barbara (Dennis) Phelps and Shari (Jeremy) Block, nieces and nephews Ashley, Alex, Madilyn, Aubrey, Bobby, Ellen, Oliver, and Maggie. Sisters-in-law Rita Tierney, Johanna (Bruce) Steans, Teresa (Tom) McHenry, Mary Tierney, Jacque (John) Murray, and many nieces, nephews, and their families.
Funeral service will be held Friday, June 24, 2022 at 2 PM at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn. Interment will take place immediately following at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Elkhorn. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations in Brent’s name to the Epilepsy Foundation https://www.epilepsy.com/local/nebraska. Brent recognized the need for families of epilepsy patients to have a support network.
