INDEPENDENCE — Raymond B. Weier, 90, of Independence died Saturday, July 29, 2006, at Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Whitehall.
He was born December 12, 1915, in Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, to Louis and Nellie (Boberg) Weier. He grew up on a farm in Plum Creek, rural Independence, and lived in the area all his life.
Ray was a mess sergeant and served with the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre. He was nominated for a high level award due to his ingenuity in developing a safe way to feed front-line troops. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.
After returning from the War, Ray married Betty Lou Zastrow on September 28, 1948, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Arcadia. She died November 16, 1997. Ray worked for a short time in his father's bar in Independence; then, because of his love of people and his head for business, he was drawn into several successful endeavors including Weier Distributing (candy and cigarette wholesale) in partnership with his brother, Sonny. During the 1950s, he was a sales manager and national speaker for Watkins Products. In the 1960s, Ray was a sales representative for Atlas Manufacturing Company. In 1968, he was a co-owner in Keystone Manufacturing, a feed mill in Black River Falls. From 1969 until the late 1970s, he was sole owner of a wholesale feed, supplement and bag distributing company out of Independence and Black River Falls. He sold his business at age 65. Ray then developed a woodworking business where he created various unique wood pieces and sold them, and also worked in partnership with his brother, Bud Weier.
Ray loved gardening and bread making. He was an accomplished cook, and frequently experimented with new dishes, ingredients and spices, much to his family's delight. Ray was an avid Cincinnati Reds baseball fan.
Ray served several terms on the city council representing the 4th Ward of Independence. He was a member of Sura-Wiersgalla American Legion Post 186 of Independence, longtime treasurer and was actively involved in the management of Club 186. Ray was a member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, and served on the church council and sang with the choir. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council 2787, and served as grand knight. Ray's Catholic faith and his devotion to the Virgin Mary were a great part of his life. He enjoyed spending many happy hours with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary (Peter) Hanson of Middleton, Wis., Judy (Isidoro Curiel) Weier of Vallalodid, Spain and Sally (Greg) Baecker of Arkansaw, Wis.; a brother, Louis "Bud" (Beth) Weier of De Pere, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Sara Garcia, Nicholas Baecker, Danny Hanson, Elise Baecker, Megan Hanson, Amanda, Paul and Christopher Baecker; six nephews, Brian (Becky) Maisel, Rick Knight, Richard (Karen) Hanan, James (Tammy) Hanan, Kevin (Laura) Hanan and Louis E. (René) Weier Jr.; and three nieces, Joann White, Pat Gurtner and Donna Mae Hanan.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife; brothers, infant Linus, Alfred and August "Sonny" Weier; two sisters, Lucille Hanan and Dorothy Sromovsky.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with the Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Edison Funeral Home in Independence, where there will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
He was born December 12, 1915, in Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, to Louis and Nellie (Boberg) Weier. He grew up on a farm in Plum Creek, rural Independence, and lived in the area all his life.
Ray was a mess sergeant and served with the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre. He was nominated for a high level award due to his ingenuity in developing a safe way to feed front-line troops. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.
After returning from the War, Ray married Betty Lou Zastrow on September 28, 1948, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Arcadia. She died November 16, 1997. Ray worked for a short time in his father's bar in Independence; then, because of his love of people and his head for business, he was drawn into several successful endeavors including Weier Distributing (candy and cigarette wholesale) in partnership with his brother, Sonny. During the 1950s, he was a sales manager and national speaker for Watkins Products. In the 1960s, Ray was a sales representative for Atlas Manufacturing Company. In 1968, he was a co-owner in Keystone Manufacturing, a feed mill in Black River Falls. From 1969 until the late 1970s, he was sole owner of a wholesale feed, supplement and bag distributing company out of Independence and Black River Falls. He sold his business at age 65. Ray then developed a woodworking business where he created various unique wood pieces and sold them, and also worked in partnership with his brother, Bud Weier.
Ray loved gardening and bread making. He was an accomplished cook, and frequently experimented with new dishes, ingredients and spices, much to his family's delight. Ray was an avid Cincinnati Reds baseball fan.
Ray served several terms on the city council representing the 4th Ward of Independence. He was a member of Sura-Wiersgalla American Legion Post 186 of Independence, longtime treasurer and was actively involved in the management of Club 186. Ray was a member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, and served on the church council and sang with the choir. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council 2787, and served as grand knight. Ray's Catholic faith and his devotion to the Virgin Mary were a great part of his life. He enjoyed spending many happy hours with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary (Peter) Hanson of Middleton, Wis., Judy (Isidoro Curiel) Weier of Vallalodid, Spain and Sally (Greg) Baecker of Arkansaw, Wis.; a brother, Louis "Bud" (Beth) Weier of De Pere, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Sara Garcia, Nicholas Baecker, Danny Hanson, Elise Baecker, Megan Hanson, Amanda, Paul and Christopher Baecker; six nephews, Brian (Becky) Maisel, Rick Knight, Richard (Karen) Hanan, James (Tammy) Hanan, Kevin (Laura) Hanan and Louis E. (René) Weier Jr.; and three nieces, Joann White, Pat Gurtner and Donna Mae Hanan.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife; brothers, infant Linus, Alfred and August "Sonny" Weier; two sisters, Lucille Hanan and Dorothy Sromovsky.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with the Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Edison Funeral Home in Independence, where there will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
INDEPENDENCE — Raymond B. Weier, 90, of Independence died Saturday, July 29, 2006, at Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Whitehall.
He was born December 12, 1915, in Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, to Louis and Nellie (Boberg) Weier. He grew up on a farm in Plum Creek, rural Independence, and lived in the area all his life.
Ray was a mess sergeant and served with the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre. He was nominated for a high level award due to his ingenuity in developing a safe way to feed front-line troops. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.
After returning from the War, Ray married Betty Lou Zastrow on September 28, 1948, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Arcadia. She died November 16, 1997. Ray worked for a short time in his father's bar in Independence; then, because of his love of people and his head for business, he was drawn into several successful endeavors including Weier Distributing (candy and cigarette wholesale) in partnership with his brother, Sonny. During the 1950s, he was a sales manager and national speaker for Watkins Products. In the 1960s, Ray was a sales representative for Atlas Manufacturing Company. In 1968, he was a co-owner in Keystone Manufacturing, a feed mill in Black River Falls. From 1969 until the late 1970s, he was sole owner of a wholesale feed, supplement and bag distributing company out of Independence and Black River Falls. He sold his business at age 65. Ray then developed a woodworking business where he created various unique wood pieces and sold them, and also worked in partnership with his brother, Bud Weier.
Ray loved gardening and bread making. He was an accomplished cook, and frequently experimented with new dishes, ingredients and spices, much to his family's delight. Ray was an avid Cincinnati Reds baseball fan.
Ray served several terms on the city council representing the 4th Ward of Independence. He was a member of Sura-Wiersgalla American Legion Post 186 of Independence, longtime treasurer and was actively involved in the management of Club 186. Ray was a member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, and served on the church council and sang with the choir. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council 2787, and served as grand knight. Ray's Catholic faith and his devotion to the Virgin Mary were a great part of his life. He enjoyed spending many happy hours with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary (Peter) Hanson of Middleton, Wis., Judy (Isidoro Curiel) Weier of Vallalodid, Spain and Sally (Greg) Baecker of Arkansaw, Wis.; a brother, Louis "Bud" (Beth) Weier of De Pere, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Sara Garcia, Nicholas Baecker, Danny Hanson, Elise Baecker, Megan Hanson, Amanda, Paul and Christopher Baecker; six nephews, Brian (Becky) Maisel, Rick Knight, Richard (Karen) Hanan, James (Tammy) Hanan, Kevin (Laura) Hanan and Louis E. (René) Weier Jr.; and three nieces, Joann White, Pat Gurtner and Donna Mae Hanan.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife; brothers, infant Linus, Alfred and August "Sonny" Weier; two sisters, Lucille Hanan and Dorothy Sromovsky.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with the Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Edison Funeral Home in Independence, where there will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
He was born December 12, 1915, in Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, to Louis and Nellie (Boberg) Weier. He grew up on a farm in Plum Creek, rural Independence, and lived in the area all his life.
Ray was a mess sergeant and served with the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre. He was nominated for a high level award due to his ingenuity in developing a safe way to feed front-line troops. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.
After returning from the War, Ray married Betty Lou Zastrow on September 28, 1948, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Arcadia. She died November 16, 1997. Ray worked for a short time in his father's bar in Independence; then, because of his love of people and his head for business, he was drawn into several successful endeavors including Weier Distributing (candy and cigarette wholesale) in partnership with his brother, Sonny. During the 1950s, he was a sales manager and national speaker for Watkins Products. In the 1960s, Ray was a sales representative for Atlas Manufacturing Company. In 1968, he was a co-owner in Keystone Manufacturing, a feed mill in Black River Falls. From 1969 until the late 1970s, he was sole owner of a wholesale feed, supplement and bag distributing company out of Independence and Black River Falls. He sold his business at age 65. Ray then developed a woodworking business where he created various unique wood pieces and sold them, and also worked in partnership with his brother, Bud Weier.
Ray loved gardening and bread making. He was an accomplished cook, and frequently experimented with new dishes, ingredients and spices, much to his family's delight. Ray was an avid Cincinnati Reds baseball fan.
Ray served several terms on the city council representing the 4th Ward of Independence. He was a member of Sura-Wiersgalla American Legion Post 186 of Independence, longtime treasurer and was actively involved in the management of Club 186. Ray was a member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, and served on the church council and sang with the choir. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council 2787, and served as grand knight. Ray's Catholic faith and his devotion to the Virgin Mary were a great part of his life. He enjoyed spending many happy hours with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary (Peter) Hanson of Middleton, Wis., Judy (Isidoro Curiel) Weier of Vallalodid, Spain and Sally (Greg) Baecker of Arkansaw, Wis.; a brother, Louis "Bud" (Beth) Weier of De Pere, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Sara Garcia, Nicholas Baecker, Danny Hanson, Elise Baecker, Megan Hanson, Amanda, Paul and Christopher Baecker; six nephews, Brian (Becky) Maisel, Rick Knight, Richard (Karen) Hanan, James (Tammy) Hanan, Kevin (Laura) Hanan and Louis E. (René) Weier Jr.; and three nieces, Joann White, Pat Gurtner and Donna Mae Hanan.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife; brothers, infant Linus, Alfred and August "Sonny" Weier; two sisters, Lucille Hanan and Dorothy Sromovsky.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with the Very Rev. Douglas C. Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Edison Funeral Home in Independence, where there will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
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