Michael H. Wieland

1941 - 2015

Michael Wieland

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Michael H. Wieland, 74, of O'Fallon, Ill., born May 19, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 6, 2015.

Raised in Tyler, Texas, Mike received a Bachelor of General Studies in Business Management from the University of Omaha in 1967, and a Masters in Business Management from the University of Central Michigan in 1976. He entered the U.S. Air Force in January 1962, and was commissioned and received his navigator rating in November 1962. Throughout his career, he flew in the C-124, C-130, C-141, EC-47, VC-135, and VC-137 aircraft. His operational assignments were at Hunter Air Force Base, Ga., McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Yongson Army Installation, Republic of Korea, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga. He achieved the rank of colonel in 1984. His positions as a colonel included Chief, Readiness Division, Operations Plans, Military Airlift Command; Military Airlift Command Liaison Officer for the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces, Korea; Commander, 60th Air Base Group, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; Vice Commander, 1606 Air Base Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; and Chief of Staff, 14th Air Force, Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga. He retired from the Air Force in August 1991. Among his many military decorations, Col. Wieland was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, and six Air Medals.

Mike was an active member of The Rotary Club of O'Fallon, Ill., where he was recognized as the Rotarian of the Year three times. He received the "Four Avenues of Service Citation for Individual Rotarians" in 1999-2000, and served as club president in 2000-2001 when the club won the District Governor's Trophy and the Rotary Significant Achievement Award. He was currently serving as the club's historian and orientation officer. He had coordinated several Group Study Exchange Team visits and was a regular participant in club activities such as highway clean-ups, citrus sales, annual auction, blood drives, and local parades. For the Rotary District 6510, Mike had served as the Youth Exchange Outbound Coordinator since 2002, and held various district leadership positions.

Mike was a faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church, O'Fallon, Ill., past president of the church council and chair of the endowment committee. He was involved in Boy Scouts of America, as an Eagle Scout, and Unit Commissioner for Troop 44 in Mascoutah, Ill., and had mentored students at Central School in O'Fallon, Ill. For these and many other contributions, Mike was awarded the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce 2003 Citizenship Award for Volunteerism.

Mike was a member of the Southwest Illinois YMCA Endowment Committee and served as chairman of financial development for O'Fallon YMCA Board of Managers. As a member of Military Officers Association of America, he was past-president of Southwest Illinois Chapter (1999-2001) and past-president of the Illinois Council of Chapters (2007-2008).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lois Wieland; two brothers Charles and Jon Edmonson; and a sister, Betty Leary.

Surviving are his wife Jane, nee McDonald, Wieland, of O'Fallon, Ill.; two sisters, Virdie (Foy) Dunaway of Burleson, Texas, and Carla (Don) Norwag of Las Vegas, Nev.; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations are suggested to Faith Lutheran Church, O'Fallon, Ill. Sign the guestbook at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 9 to 10:50 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Faith Lutheran Church, 520 E. Highway 50, O'Fallon, Ill.

Funeral: Memorial Service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Faith Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Downs officiating, assisted by Associate Pastor Candice Stone. Procession will depart the church promptly at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, for a military graveside service to begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.

WOLFERSBERGER FUNERAL HOME, O'Fallon, Ill.