Dr. George Fred Wieland

George and I together worked our way through Stanford University's undergraduate program. We started in 1955. We received a dorm room and a study carrel at the campus firehouse. We were "student firemen". He was a gentle, kind classmate; I've remembered him fondly for 67 years

I met George at least three times. Once was at the Waterloo Farm Museum in Grass Lake; another time was at the Rentschler Farm Museum in Saline. Both visits concerned Germans of Swabian descent. He also came to my house at one time, to discuss my German ancestors. He was both a scholar and an historian. It was my pleasure to meet him and to read his book, Celtic Germans.

We have fond memories of George and his family in Dudley Avenue, Nashville. We were only talking about you last week. It's sad to hear of George's death and we send our condolences to the whole family.

Thinking of George brings a smile to my face. He was a gentle man who was always eager to learn and have new experiences. Researching and writing his books about German people was his passion. He deeply loved his children. I am so grateful he was in my life as a friend, then as a partner for several years, and then again as a friend.

All kind energies to all of you who knew and loved George. He was a fantastic and important friend to me when I was in my late teens and early twenties. We had so many good conversations about life and the living of it, as well as all manner of books, music, history, society, culture and so on. I think "curiosity, compassion and contra dancing" is a great way to describe him! I remember his world being full of all the different things he was curious about, and that his curiosity meant really learning all about a thing. And his world was full of long, good conversations, and real, thoughtful friendship- that was what I saw. He really took me on as a younger person in the most compassionate way, too. And I even tried contra dancing a few times. I am really happy and grateful I got the chance to know him. Sending lots of love from Sweden.

We have received the sad news that our dear cousin George F. Wieland has passed away. We were always pleased that he was interested in his Swabian relatives and ancestors. He was about 22 years old when he was on the Trailhof for a few days with Sharon for the first time. His mother and grandmother grew up there.
2007 was his last visit to Swabia. Bartenbach near Sulzbach an der Murr is the place where his father grew up. There we had a farewell party for George at the Gasthaus Adler. 35 relatives of his celebrated with him. He was very happy about that. He said: "Now I know that I also have a home here".
He wanted so much to come again to visit Mike with his family in Wiesbaden and to see us, that is me, my sister Gretel vom Ittenberg and my cousin Helga and all the others. Now there are no more visits and we are mourning.

Part two from Leo. We had a few adventures Together I thoughtless enjoyed. Certain parts of our childhood experience were the same.

My condolences to George's family and many friends. He was a gentle, kind, humble, sensitive soul. I knew him thru contra dancing, thru another venue, and thru a love of German language and culture. He was a true intellectual in his work, producing so many valuable publications and yet unlike many scholars, he was a humble man who could relate heart to heart to so many different kinds of people with respect. He was a good and rare soul. Thank you and fare thee well, George! Sincerely, Cayla Tchalo

He was a wonderful friend, a compassionate man and my dearest companion these past few years.