On December 15, 2016, Wade Bourne, age 69, of Clarksville, TN, passed from the outdoors he loved, into the arms of Jesus. A twenty-plus year Sunday School teacher, he lived a life of service to the Lord. In addition, he was a passionate conservationist, outdoorsman, and fan of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Born on April 14, 1947, at Clarksville Memorial Hospital, Wade Bourne’s name was one of the most recognized in the outdoors. Bourne was a full-time outdoor broadcaster/writer whose works have appeared regularly before national listening, viewing, and reading audiences over the past four decades.

Bourne was founder and host of the award-winning Wired2Fish/Hunt Radio, a syndicated fishing/hunting radio show that airs year-round throughout the U. S. on approximately 280 stations. For the 16 consecutive years prior, Bourne hosted In-Fisherman Radio (north, south and west editions), the largest syndicated outdoor radio show in North America.

Bourne was a veteran contributor to the nation’s leading outdoor magazines. He was Editor-at-Large for Ducks Unlimited Magazine and Senior Writer for Bassmaster Magazine. He also writes frequently for other national outdoor publications. He has had more than 3,000 articles published in outdoor magazines. He was the author of six books: “Fishing Fundamentals,” “Fishing Made Easy,” “Fishing Basics,” “Ducks Unlimited Guide to Decoys and Proven Methods for Using Them,” “Ducks Unlimited Guide to Hunting Dabblers,” and “Ultimate Turkey Hunting,”

Bourne has hosted/co-hosted Ducks Unlimited TV (Outdoor Channel, Pursuit Channel) for the past 10 years. For 7 years prior, he hosted the weekly hunting/fishing adventure series Advantage Outdoors TV on The Nashville Network (TNN).

Bourne was a 2003 inductee into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame and a 2005 inductee into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. He received the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in October of 2014 (the seventh recipient of this award in SEOPA’s 50-year history). He received the prestigious Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award from the Professional Outdoor Media Association/American Sportfishing Association in 2016.

Bourne was the class president of his 1965 graduating class from Clarksville High School and subsequently attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. He graduated from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) with a B.A. degree in English. He pursued an M.A. degree in journalism at Murray State University (Kentucky). He also served as a U. S. Air Force pilot before beginning his career in outdoor communications.

Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday, December 20, at 1:00 PM, at First Baptist Church of Clarksville, with Rev. Larry Riley and Rev. Bill Graham officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, December 19, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, at First Baptist Church of Clarksville, and Tuesday, December 20, from 12:00 PM until the hour of service, at the church.

Bourne is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Lucile Bourne and niece, Lara Bourne. He is survived by his wife, Becky; children, Hampton and Haley; his beloved brother, Joe; three nieces; a great niece and nephew; and a score of wonderful friends.

Pallbearers will be Matt Lyle, Houston Smith, Grayson Smith, Carter Salyers, Luke Salyers, John Brannen, James Brannen, and Wes Sumner. Honorary pallbearers will be Pat Keough, Bob Meek, Lane Lyle, David Smith, Steve Salyers, Jim Brannen, Philip Sumner, Jon Clark, Jerry Clark, and members of the Wade Bourne Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made, in Wade’s name, to the First Baptist Church of Clarksville Building Fund, 435 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; or to Ducks Unlimited, 1 Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN 38120.

Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 645-6488. Online condolences may be made at www.nealtarpleyparchman.com.