Frederick Albert Weiss

Frederick Albert Weiss was born to Robert and Hilda Weiss on Sept. 26, 1936, in Michigan City. The oldest of five children, he was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church and grew up on the west side with the dunes as his backyard. He attended St. Paul Lutheran Day School and graduated from Elston High School in 1954.

In 1955, he met the love of his life, Carol Belling, when she came to Michigan City to teach at the Lutheran Day School. They were married in 1957 and for nearly 66 years the sun rose and set on their love. As Alzheimer's disease claimed more and more of Carol's mind, Fred remained her beloved companion and caregiver until her death in 2022.

Fred studied drafting at Purdue Northwest, eventually finding work as a draftsman for Clark Equipment Brown Trailer in Michigan City. He worked for Clark for the next 35 years, including stints with Clark Michigan (Benton Harbor) and VME (Euclid, Ohio). While with Clark, Fred created his "Pray for Snow" festival, which featured the annual hanging of the namesake plaque, much to the delight (or chagrin) of his workmates.

After retiring from VME as an engineering manager, Fred spent the next 11 years as a part-time bagger and delivery driver for Al's Supermarket on Karwick Road. This "second career" allowed his conviviality and sense of service to flourish. During these years, the "Pray for Snow" party came home, becoming a treasured herald of the winter season for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Together, Fred and Carol raised four children in a home filled with family, faith and love. Besides providing for his family, Fred was a devoted husband and father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Ever ready to play a board game or card game, read a book aloud, write a special note or share tales of family history, their home became one where welcome ran wide and deep.

Fred was active at St. Paul Lutheran throughout his life, serving on the Day School board, the church council and as congregational president. He was also a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. In church nearly every Sunday with Carol, they brought communion to homebound members for years.

In the early 2000s, Fred (and Carol) became active in Al-Anon through Dunes House, supporting each other and their son, Don, in his recovery journey. Fred spoke publicly at Al-Anon meetings across NW Indiana for several years.

Around that same time (and likely as an extension of his love for Don) Fred started volunteering weekly with PADS (Public Action Providing Shelter), the precursor to Nest Community shelter, when it began as a men's shelter rotating through church basements. For 19 years (into his early 80s!) he covered the 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. shift every Friday night from October to April – some 535 Friday nights. In 2024, Nest honored him as the inaugural recipient of the Weiss Award for his dedicated service as a volunteer. Fred would say the real honor was to have served those in need.

Over the past year, as Fred's health challenges multiplied, he had to learn how to be the one in need. His caregivers – in hospitals, rehab units and at home – consistently marveled at his gentle good humor, even as his body's pains grew. At the end, at Franciscan Health Michigan City, he knew one thing: that he wished to go home. And so, his children brought him home and kept vigil with him, until he died peacefully in a bed set in the living room of the home he had so filled with love. Thanks be to God.

Fred is survived by children, David (Margaret Schuster), Deon (Jerry) Bishop and Deborah (Leroy) Reagor; brothers, Philip and James; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; oldest son, Don; sisters, Suzanne and Judith; and parents, Robert and Hilda.

Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Geisen-Carlisle Funeral Home, 613 Washington St., Michigan City, Indiana. Funeral service on Friday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m., with additional visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 818 Franklin St., Michigan City, Indiana. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.

Fred would be honored by memorials to one of his beloved causes: Nest Community Shelter, 1001 W. 8th St., Michigan City / www.nestcommunity shelter.org; or Dunes House, 211 E. 6th St., Michigan City / www.duneshouse.org.