William John WEISS

WEISS, SOFENRIDER, LEWISON, BENGTSON, HIEMSTRA, SCHMIDT, WIGNALL, REILLY, OHLAUG, BAUERLY, FABER, SIVINSKI, OCKERMAN, FAULKEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/3/2014 at 13:55:35

April 1, 1925 -- April 9, 2014

William John Weiss was born on April 1, 1925, son of William and Catherine (Sofenrider) Weiss in Britt. He graduated from high school at Britt. While in high school, he played the trumpet and was awarded second place at state playing "Carnival of Venice" by Harry James.

He was united in marriage to Barbra Lewison on Aug. 4, 1944, while on leave from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy as ship's cook second class on March 9, 1946. When he returned to the states, he farmed at Kanawha, Iowa with his father-in-law, Alvin Lewison. Later, he was a career underwriter for the Farm Bureau Insurance Company for 23 years. He joined the Hancock County agency in 1960. He served as agency manager in Dickinson County from 1961 until 1977, also serving as manager in Clay County for 10 years. He was the recipient of many awards and won several trips throughout the years. He was a member of the Royal Court of Honor and in 1978 he earned the distinguished sales award of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Central Iowa.

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake and a past president of the Spirit Lake Rotary Club. After retirement, he and Barb spent winters at South Padre Island, Texas. Bill enjoyed fishing, playing Scrabble and cards, going out to eat, reading, going on trips, listening to music, and most of all, spending time with his family.

After 50 years of marriage, Barb died Sept. 15, 1994. He married Ethel Bengtson Hiemstra Sept. 21, 1995. Ethel died May 7, 2011. Bill died April 9, 2014, in Winterset from multiple myeloma. He donated his body to Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Preceding Bill in death were his parents, five brothers; Edward, Jacob, Joseph, Clement, and John, two sisters; Philomena and Pauline, and his two wives, Barb and Ethel.

Survivors include his children; Julie Schmidt (Steve) of Sunnyvale, Calif., Gregory Weiss (Kathy) of Mahopac, N.Y., Debra Wignall (Bill) of Winterset, and stepchildren, Shanda Reilly (Larry) of Aurelia, and Janilyn Ohlaug (David) of Brainerd, Minn. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Kristi Bauerly (Mike) of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Amanda Weiss of Mahopac, N.Y., step-grandchildren; Tadd Reilly (Amanda) of Bowling Green, K.Y., Kasey Reilly (Kristen) of St. Louis, Mo., Kalli Reilly of Aurelia, Kari Faber (Scott) of Johnston, Brandon Ohlaug (Abby) of Cedar Rapids, great-grandchild, Penelope Bauerly, and step great-grandchildren; Kamden Reilly, Jeffrey Sivinski, Lynsee Ockerman, Tyson and Madelyn Faber, and Paxton Ohlaug. Also surviving are his brother, Frank, and his sister, Catherine Faulken, of Mason City., sister-in-law Marie Weiss of Mason City, and other relatives and friends.

April 29, 2014
Dickinson County News - Spirit Lake, Iowa