WIELAND, Donald N.

WIELAND, NELSON, SPEERS, TAYLOR

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 8/21/2007 at 09:38:23

DONALD N. WIELAND

Funeral services for Donald Wieland, 80, of Aurelia, will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Harold Werley officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Aurelia. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia. A memorial fund has been established.

Don died Sunday, August 19, 2007 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee.

Donald Nelson Wieland was born April 25, 1927 in Aurelia, Iowa, the son of Fred and Mary (Nelson) Wieland. He was raised in Aurelia, and attended kindergarten through 12th grade at the Aurelia Community School, graduating with the class of 1947. Don volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army from June 1945 to November 1946 during World War II, serving his country in the Registrar’s Office, 280th Station Hospital in Marburg and Bremen, Germany. After his discharge in 1946 he returned to Aurelia High School and graduated in 1947. He attended National Business Institute in Sioux City, Iowa from 1947 to 1948. From spring until the fall of 1948 he worked for the Farmers National Bank. From 1948 to 1951 he was with the Illinois Central Railroad as a relief operator and agent.

On November 23, 1949 Don married Betty Speers at The Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua, Iowa. They returned to Aurelia in 1951 and Don entered a partnership with his cousin, Keith Wieland, and purchased the Standard Oil Station, which they operated for 6 ½ years. 1956-1957 was Cherokee County Treasurer. Don worked from 1957 till 1984 at the Farmers National Bank in Aurelia, until the FDIC closed the bank in 1984. He had started as a cashier and was executive vice-president when the bank closed. He was then vice-president at First Trust and Savings Bank from 1984 until his retirement in 1992.

Don was an active member of the Aurelia community all his adult life. The following are just some committees and organizations he served on: Little League coach 5 years, City Council several years, City Clerk several years, volunteer fireman for 10 years, active member of Commercial Club since 1951 and served on various committees and local and county fund drive 6 years, served on local Community Betterment Club and Iowa Community Betterment, worked with Cub and Boy Scouts for 20 years, serving as Cub Master 4 years, Troop Camping leader 10 years, served as sustaining membership chairman for the community 1965-1982, member of District Unit Organizing Committee 3 years and District Nominating Committee. Received Silver Beaver Award which is the highest award given by Prairie Gold Area Council of Boy Scouts. Don has been an active member of the American Legion for more than 60 years. Served as Service Officer many years helping veterans get into and out of Veterans Hospitals and arranging other veterans benefits, as well as serving on various other committees for Memorial Day activities, annual pancake suppers, head cook for monthly meetings, and was on the Viet Nam monument committee. Don was an active member and supporter of the First United Methodist Church, serving for many years as a board member and church treasurer. He was a charter member of the Aurelia Kiwanis Club, and also a member of the board of the Aurelia Golf Club. Don’s hobbies included H.O. trains, golf and working in his shop.

Preceding Don in death were his parents, sister Lucille Taylor and her husband Robert, and brother Benny Wieland and his wife Esther.

Survivors include his wife Betty of Aurelia, two sons, David and his wife Susan Wieland and their daughter Nicole of Kansas City, MO, and son Dennis Wieland of Aurelia and his children; Leah, Drew, and Dustin. Also surviving is one brother-in-law, Don and his wife Alice Speers of Storm Lake, and other relatives and friends.