Weichman, Don E.

Don E. Weichman, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, 84, of Newhall, Iowa, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following an extended illness.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Visitation also will be held at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

A memorial fund has been established. Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.

Don was born Sept. 9, 1927, in Newhall, Iowa, to Victor and Bertha (Schirm) Weichman. He graduated from Newhall High School, with the class of 1945. Don attended Iowa State University. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1952, during the Korean conflict.

On Aug. 27, 1950, Don was united in marriage to Shirley Cahoe at St. John's Lutheran Church in Newhall, Iowa. After returning from the service where he was stationed in Warrenton, Va., Don and Shirley started farming for themselves on the family farm that was homesteaded in 1965. Don was born and raised on this Century Farm, northeast of Newhall.

Don and wife, Shirley have been members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Newhall, where Don was baptized, confirmed and a lifetime member.

Don served as Benton County Soil Conservation commissioner for 19 years, served as president and board member of Benton County Cattle Feeders Association, served as president and board member of Benton County Pork Producers, served as board member and past chairman of Newhall Benefited Fire District No. 4, and life time member of John Ward McGranahan American Legion Post #167 in Newhall.

Don loved sports, especially baseball and basketball. He was proud to have pitched for the Schirm Family Baseball Team that played for three years from 1946 to 1949.

His love and passion for singing was fulfilled by singing with St. John's Lutheran Church Choir for many years and inspired him to join the Cedar Rapids Harmony Hawks Barbershop quartet singing in the 1980s.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Shirley; two daughters, Debra (Doug) Wessling of Spicer, Minn., and Cynthia (Dennis) Wagner of Cullowhee, N.C.; five grandchildren, Brooke Wessling Bergman and husband Scott of Maple Grove, Minn., Carrie Wessling of Minneapolis, Minn., Wade Wessling of Fargo, N.D., Whitney Wagner of Florence, S.C., and Joshua Wagner of Cullowhee, N.C.; one great-grandson, Wyatt Bergman; his sister, Byrdine Siek Pickart and husband Julian of Bella Vista, Ark.; and other relatives and friends.

Condolences may be left at: .

Published in The Gazette Nov. 7, 2011.