Arthur James Weiser

Arthur James Weiser was born February 23, 1928 to Richard Weiser and Emma Weiser at his parents home on the family farm near Bison, Kansas.  He joined his older brother, Marvin and subsequent younger sisters, Marlyn and Arlyn.  Arthur passed away April 12, 2021 at the home of his son Art H. Weiser in Blackfoot, Idaho.

Art attended grade school and completed the 8th grade in La Crosse, KS.  Upon leaving school he got a job working as a civilian in the machine shop at the Great Bend Army Airfield in Great Bend, KS.  This is where he found is love for machine work, making repair parts for the B-29 Superfortress.  He took great satisfaction in making something useful out of a piece of solid steel.

He enlisted in the United States Army on February 14, 1952 during the Korean War and was honorably discharged from active duty on August 5, 1952 with subsequent full discharge from the Army Reserves on Feb. 13,  1960.

Art married the love of his life, Barbara Frances Walkden, on August 14, 1952 in Manhattan, KS.  To this union were born two sons Arthur Halden Weiser and Richard Kevin Weiser.

Art was a machinist and diesel mechanic all of his life, working in the oil fields of Texas working for Dia-Log Oilfield Services in Houston from 1953 to 1959.  In 1959 the family moved to Wyoming where he worked for Brasel and Sims Construction Co. in Cheyenne, WY, as a mechanic. He and a partner opened their own company, Diesel Service Company, in 1963 in Cheyenne, WY.  In 1968, they moved to Gillette, WY to again work in the oil fields as a mechanic with BJ Oilfield Services.  In 1971, the family relocated to Medicine Bow, WY and Art worked as a machinist for Energy Development Co. and Arch Minerals Co., both coal mines in Hanna, WY.  In 1985, they moved to Pinedale, WY and opened a machine shop. They later moved to Loveland, CO and then moved to Hartville, WY, working as a machinist.  In 1992, while in Hartville, he taught Machine Shop Processes at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, WY.  In 1993, Art and his wife Barbara retired to their home in Medicine Bow, WY.

Art and Barbara loved camping, hunting, fishing and shooting sports with their sons during their leisure time.  On occasion he would indulge Barb’s fancy for rock hunting, traveling with the family either to Shirley Basin or Jeffery City.  They also loved the Oregon coast and often traveled there to visit Marvin and his family.

He and Barbara were very active in the antique engine show activity in the region by showing 3 of his engines and helping some of the owners keep their engines running using his skills as a machinist, making parts for or repairing the old engines.  Art and Barbara hosted the Medicine Bow Antique Engine and Tractor Expo for 5 consecutive years. 

Art lost his wife, Barbara, on April 02, 2003. 

He remained active in the engine show community throughout the rest of his life where he had many friends. He continued to enjoy camping and shooting activities with his sons.

Art was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Barbara, his parents, his brother Marvin and one great granddaughter, Alyssa Weiser-Lilly (14).  He is survived by his sisters, Marlyn Unger (Carm) of San Jose, California and Arlyn Wood of Brighton, Colorado; his sons, Arthur H. (Kathy) Weiser of Blackfoot, Idaho and Kevin (Lynn) Weiser of Windsor, Colorado; 6 grandchildren, Melissa Weiser, Leslie Strong (Ralph), Stephanie Brixius (Mike), Taryn Mendenhall (Adam), Megan Corbett (Kevin), Lauren Martin and 19 great grandchildren, Ajalae Weiser-Lilly, Andi Weiser-Lilly, Roeyn Weiser-Lilly, Thatcher Strong, Seth Strong, Christian (Tyrene) Hisey, Dylan Kirkpatrick, Beverly Mendenhall, Kaiden (Zoe) Corbett, Skyler Corbett, Ashton Corbett, Morgan Cook, MaLyn Cook, Elam Corbett, Keller Corbett, Halden Martin and Gannon Weiser; and several nieces and nephews.

At Art’s request there were no services.  Internment will be in Halstead, KS at a later date.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of our friends at Encompass Health for taking such good care of Arthur, our Dad, during his final days.