David Frederick Wiesehan Sr.

David F. Wiesehan, Sr. passed away in the comfort of his home with family on January 14, 2025. He was 75 years old.
David was a Vietnam Veteran having proudly served in the Army directly after graduating high school. During the 80s, he was a proud and outspoken advocate for POW/MIA throughout Granite City and the surrounding area, educating and informing people of those Americans who were prisoners of war and those who served and never returned home.
After retiring from Granite City Steel at 55, he began remodeling homes. He enjoyed being able to be creative, paint and restore homes for new families.
He loved to go on trips and do a bit of travel. He and his long-time lady friend, Karen, enjoyed many long weekends in Branson, as well as Eureka Springs, New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis and more, with a few cruises along the way. A few years back, he travelled to Alaska with his son and also back to Vietnam with him for his 50-year anniversary of having been there.
An avid hunter and skilled shooter, he loved taking his grandson out deer hunting as well as the seasonal meat shoots.
Fishing was his most favorite pastime, catching bluegill and bass, whether it be at Carlyle Lake, Edwardsville Gun Club with his buddy, Horace, or any of the lakes in between. Fish fry's were his favorite family gathering and it would be accurate to say that sometimes he would have 10 bags of fish waiting in the freezer to be fried up; complete with KFC coleslaw, pickles, onions and some Bunny bread. Those were some of the most enjoyed nights, simple and easy going, sitting in the garage, nibbling on fish, having a couple beers and solving the world's problems.
He enjoyed being a part of the Collinsville VFW and the Grafton American Legion and has made many friends while being a member.
He loved getting down in the kitchen and always seemed to be making something – like his world's greatest jambalaya, pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas, or sweets like cupcakes (using his special icing tips) or pineapple upside down cake for his contribution to the table at the American Legion's Queen of Hearts. He said that he never got to try his pineapple upside down cake because by the time he got around to it, it was always already gone. Compliments to the chef!
He loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with them the most, hosting those fish frys, woodworking, making birdhouses and being creative. Through the years, he made so many things that his kids would request – from shelving units to synthesizer racks and everything in between. He was incredibly talented in this regard. One of his best-selling items at Knotty by Nature was gun shell American flags.
With a great smile and magnetic personality, many people would be drawn to him. Everyone always loved to talk to him. He also had a way of telling jokes in a serious way – you never knew if it was a real story or not and had to wait to see if there was a punchline. He was a fun-loving man.
He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Lillian (Eugea) Wiesehan and brothers, Harold, Donald and Ed and is survived by his daughter, Patti (Gary) Box, son, David Wiesehan, Jr. grandson, Timothy Jones and granddaughter, Taylor Taake.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 20 between the hours of 4:00-7:00pm with Pastor Brent Johnson officiating the service at 7:00pm.
A private burial will be held with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Grafton American Legion.
Abridged version
He enjoyed doing things.
He wore clothes.
Sometimes, he wore a hat.