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WILLIAM WEICHEL Obituary
Passed away peacefully on March 31, 2022 at RVH in Barrie, Ontario. Survived by his dear wife of 65 years, Muriel (née Hilliard); his children, Blain (Michelle), Laurie (Terry), and Craig (Carol Ann); sister Gloria Wegener (d. Gitch); brother Michael (Rita); grandchildren Kyla, Jesse, Kieran and Lauren; and goddaughters Lynda (Steven) and Paula (Kris). Predeceased by his parents, Hilbert (Lefty) and Gertrude Weichel; sister, June Pettie (d. Wayne); and beloved granddaughter Alana (m.Sandra).
Born in Elmira, Ontario, Bill graduated from Elmira DHS in 1949. He attended Waterloo College and then Valparaiso University in Indiana on a baseball scholarship. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario in 1951. After working as a journalist for United Press in Montreal, Halifax and Toronto, he received his teacher's certificate from the Ontario College of Education in Toronto in 1954. He returned to school in 1966, receiving a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Waterloo.
Bill began his teaching career in Prescott, Ontario in 1954, before transferring to Waterloo-Oxford DHS in Baden in 1956. He was best known as Department Head of Physical and Health Education, but also taught English, History and Geography in the early years. His football and basketball teams, which he nicknamed the "Crusaders" after Valparaiso's, were a dominant force in Central Western Ontario athletics for decades. He retired from teaching in 1989 after 35 years of service.
In 1988, Bill was elected to the Wilmot Township and Waterloo Regional councils as Wilmot's Councillor-at-Large. In nine years in that role, Bill served on numerous municipal committees and on the boards of the Grand River Conservation Authority, Ontario Traffic Conference and Wilfrid Laurier University. He was particularly proud of his work helping to protect Waterloo Region's ecological resources, as well as the successful effort to designate Castle Kilbride a National Historic Site.
Following his time on the township and regional councils, Bill served on the boards of the College of Occupational Therapists, the College of Nurses and the Community Futures Program of FedDev Ontario.
Bill had a lifelong love of sports and enjoyed tennis, golf and skiing. In his retirement, he rediscovered his youthful passion for art painting. He travelled extensively and took great pride in maintaining his cherished property on the Baden Hills. He loved engaging family members and guests in backyard games of all kinds and never tired of sharing his endless repertoire of jokes, songs and stories.
Bill had a lifelong passion for education and public service, and passed these values to those he taught, coached and with whom he worked. He was a mentor to generations of students and colleagues, and took great satisfaction from their life achievements.
He will be sorely missed as a husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle; and as an educator, coach and public servant. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hamburg, Ontario on May 25, 2022 at 2 p.m. Donations in Bill's honour can be sent to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (clwr.org) or, in memory of his grand- daughter Alana, to Angiosar- coma Awareness Incorporated (cureasc.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for WILLIAM WEICHEL
12 Entries
Jeff Gerber
May 25, 2022
Mr Weichel will be remembered and missed by our community, school, family, and friends. The depth and breadth of his impact is difficult to qualify as he was involved in so many facets of life. I thoroughly enjoyed my times in the halls of W-O with Mr. Weichel and even moreso our conversations over the years about our school and community. Bill loved remembering those many students and athletes that were a big part of his life as well. Today I will be thinking fondly of Bill, and will he honoring his legacy not by attending his memorial but by coaching the W-O softball team in a doubleheader this afternoon. Would love to be at the service but I think Bill would understand being a coach and being with the team! God bless.
Darren Longpre
April 19, 2022
Coach Weichel was a true legend. I attended W-O 1975-1980 and the impact he had on my life then, has lasted forever. Coach Weichel was an outstanding coach, motivator and a mentor to me. I was just a big farm kid with athletic ability that he noticed in Grade 9. He took me under his wing for the next 5 years, developing me into the man I became. He even made sure I had rides after games and practices, when I didn't have any, including driving me home himself on occasion. I proudly hang in the sports hallway at W-O as a result.
I invited coach and his wife Muriel my wedding, and they attended. Coach Weichel will always hold a special place in my heart.
Rest In Peace coach. I will always remember you.
Ross Shantz
April 17, 2022
Our condolences and prayers Muriel on your loss of Bill he loved his family and spoke kindly of them. I miss our rides together to Community Futures Board Meetings and his thoughtful input.May you feel Gods hand guiding you in the days ahead. Our love, Erma and Ross
Gerry Eichler
April 13, 2022
So long coach, I'm happy to have called you my friend.
Cheryl Beemer
April 12, 2022
It was by chance that I was visiting my mom in Conestogo and saw Bill's obit in the K W Record. I met Bill when he served on the College of Nurses council. Bill had a gift for engaging people in conversation by asking people questions about themselves. He discovered that I lived in Caledonia. A place he had not been to for many years. So I invited him and Muriel for dinner and we enjoyed a nice evening together. I often thought of him after our time was done at the College. It was nice to see he lived a full and happy life.
Val & Rose Sirianni
April 11, 2022
Sad to hear the news of Bill's passing. Have a wonderful journey to your destination Bill. Know that you will continue to live in our hearts and our mind. Bill was and always will be the epitome of goodness, honesty and integrity. Not only was he a mentor to me but he was also a great friend and older brother. I will forever miss our times together, discussing life, sports, family and philosophies. We will miss you. Our deepest sympathies and condolences to your family. God Bless. Val & Rose Sirianni
J. C. Meyer
April 10, 2022
Mr. Weichel coached me as a basketball player and was a man of great integrity as well as a leader. My father was also a coach and always spoke highly of him. My condolences to his loved ones.
Bill Cairns
April 10, 2022
I had the wonderful privilege of having Mr Weichel as one of my football coaches at WODHS. He played a significant role in my development. My condolences to Bill's family.
David Smith
April 10, 2022
T he grief that Bill's family and friends feel at his passing is mitigated by the many fond memories he has left for us.
When I moved from the public schools in Waterloo to teach at W-O,Bill became a mentor and friend. The times spent at tennis, golf, or skiing were often followed by discussions of current issues or our recent reading.Bill was an astute observer of the human condition: and, of course, his sense of humour and satire will continue to be a treasure.
Lloyd Trussler
April 9, 2022
I was a colleague of Bills for twenty years. He was an exceptional teacher and person. Also enjoyed the poker nights and floor hockey, etc.
I hope he left someone with his hilarious alphabet joke.
A long life, a good life.
Farewell my friend. It was a pleasure knowing you.
David Pellow
April 9, 2022
My condolences to the Weichel Family, as you all know he was a strong male pillar at W-O for many, I enjoyed him as a PE teacher, Basketball coach and mentor as having selected me to attend a two week program - Ontario Athletic Leadership Camp on Lake Couchiching in 1979- the impact this camp and Mr. Weichel had on my development as a leader - is unmeasurable and truly appreciated. Rest In Peace Mr. Weichel - your work is done and your talents live on through many!
Dr. Elizabeth Straus
April 9, 2022
I was a student in Mr. Weichel's first English class at WODHS. We were all in love with him because he was so handsome and such a compassionate person with a wonderful sense of humour. As a result of his motivation I continued my studies to become a teacher and an academic with three post graduate degrees, despite my parents belief that a "girl" didn't need a education to be a homemaker. Of all the teachers I had, I never forgot Mr. Weichel and thought of him often. He was one of a kind. RIP
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