Deacon Weiler dies at 75

Posted May 22, 2003

REMSEN - Deacon Allan "Bud" Weiler, 75, died May 16 at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

Services were held on May 19 at St. Mary's Church in Remsen. The main celebrant was Bishop Daniel DiNardo, concelebrants were priests of the diocese assisted by deacons of the diocese. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery. The visitation was May 18 with a rosary and vigil prayer service and a Catholic Order of Foresters and Knights of Columbus rosary followed by a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus honor guard and chalice service.

Weiler was born March 30, 1928, in rural Remsen, the son of John and Rose (Niehus) Weiler. He was raised in the Remsen area and received his education at St. Mary's School in Remsen, where he graduated in 1945. He then farmed with his father near Remsen.

He married Doris Lenertz on Nov. 22, 1949, in Remsen. They made their home near Remsen, where they were engaged in farming. He was ordained a deacon on May 12, 1988, in Sioux City. They retired and moved into Remsen in September 1990.

On Feb. 5, 2002, he entered Happy Siesta Health Care Center and still continued his ministry by bringing Communion to the residents and presiding at prayer services at the care center. Doris died May 31, 2002.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Garrigan Assembly, where he was a past Grand Knight and Catholic Order of Foresters. He was the minister of the secular order of Franciscans in Remsen since 1991. He was the religious education director for St. Mary's Parish from 1990 to 1996. He was active with Cursillo and RCIA.

Survivors include: three sons and their wives Jim and Ann of Chassell, Mich.; Pat and Sharon of Pella, Iowa; and Jerry and Marcia of Remsen; two daughters and their husbands, Helen and Michael Gunter of Mountain Home, Alaska; and Mary Jo and Jim McDavitt of Lakeville, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Stanley and Ernestine of Le Mars; two sisters, LaVonne Hart of Le Mars; and Ellen and her husband, Richard Hatz of Remsen; and a sister-in-law, Magdalen Weiler of Oyens, Iowa.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son Joseph; a sister, Gail Marie Kellen; and three brothers, twins, Orlo and Ora, both in infancy, and Duane.