Robert Charles Wayner

Robert Charles Wayner , 61, passed away on July 7, 2022 in Toledo, Ohio after a battle with illness. He was born on September 22, 1960 where he was raised in Goshen, Ohio along with his five siblings. Robert’s grandmother Mildred Wagner was an important part of Robert’s youth and Robert returned the favor by caring for her late in her life.

As a young boy Bobby , as he was known then , develop ed his deep love for horses whi le sitting on a hill watching a field full of ponies .  O ne day the owner asked if Robert wanted to ride the ponies. In exchange Robert helped take care of the ponies and began learning how to care for them.  His life was forever changed by the horses and ponies.

Robert attended Goshen High School and graduated in 1979. After graduation, h is passion for horses became his life calling and career.  He worked for a time as an apprentice and groom and traveled throughout the country from horse show to horse show. During this time he developed his own skills as an exceptional rider and trainer. In the mid-1980s he moved to the Toledo, OH area where he would spend the next 40 years as a trainer teaching students and hosting and attending horse shows.   While his lessons were intended to teach students to learn to ride or become more advanced rider s, more often what his younger students learned from Robert was how to be a good person and care about others.  Over the next decade Robert spent time at K arousel Farm, River Hollow Farm and Hidden Oak.  In 1998, Robert made his dream come true and along with his partner Steven Liewert founded Lieway Hunt Club & Riding Academy.  The process to transform that property from a non-working stable to what became a fine equestrian center was enormous.  With lots and lots of hard work and numerous dumpsters, his dream and vision became a reality. For the next 20 plus years Robert and Lieway were truly family to 100’s of children and adults.  Robert was recognized as an outstanding horseman and provided exceptional care to all the horses.  He loved hosting monthly horse shows and was always so proud of his students and the progress that his green horses were making.

Alongside his love for the horses, Robert also found joy in going to the casino where he could spend countless hours sitting at the slot machines with a cold Miller Lite.  A n annual trip to Las Vegas was pretty much guaranteed and when casinos began opening in the Detroit and Toledo area s he became well acquainted with those as well. His favorite food was potato skins with extra cheese and extra bacon, which he ordered whenever given the chance.

Without a doubt Christmas was Robert’s favorite holiday and time of year.  For him that “time of year” lasted at least two months.  His home and farm would always be decorated with an abundance of lights , multiple trees , reindeer pulling Santa’s sle igh and stockings on each horses stall . For many years Robert “adopted ” a Christmas Family and with support from customers and others he ensured they had a very special Christmas. An annual highlight was the Lieway year-end awards party which was also his annual Christmas party.  For years the party was held in the house before it became too big and had to move to the indoor riding arena which of course was decorated as well. These events and others often concluded with Karaoke and it was guaranteed that Robert would be signing Paper Roses.

Robert was a man who made an impact on all who knew him. He was compassionate, sincere, and above all things he was generous. He made you feel loved, valued, and was always available to help. He was a n excellent storyteller that could capture the room and was always the most entertaining. He will be remembered and loved by all who knew him.

Robert is survived by his best friend and life companion , Peter Kelley; brothers, Terry Black, Mike (Jackie) Grant; sisters, Julia (Ron) Sheets, Karen Grant (Mark Amann), Jenny Richardson ; cousin Danielle Breier , nephews, Jesse Sheets (Chrissy Hodgson), David Amann; nieces, Chelsea (Zach) Wallace, Ashley Richardson ; 3 great nephews; 5 great nieces; lifelong friend Anita Caines and many other loved ones and friends. He w as preceded in death by his partner of 20 years Steven Liewert , his mother, Roberta Richardson; grandmother, Mildred Wagner ; grandfather, Carl Wagner; brother-in-law , Ron Sheets ; nephew, Chad Amann .

A visitation will be held for Robert at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W Sylvania Ave ., Toledo, OH on July 23, 2022, from 10-3 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Condolences can be sent to the family directly at walkerfuneralhomes.com, or a monetary donation s in Robert’s memory may be made to Last Chance Corral (Athens, OH) at lastchancecorral.org