David Weiler Obituary

Weiler, David

David Valentine Weiler was born February 14, 1944 to the late Anthony and Lydia (Boehm) Weiler. Dave passed away at his home on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, just short of his 71st birthday, after a long hard fought battle with cancer.

He was a graduate of Wausau Senior High School. On May 2, 1964, he married Florence Abitz. She survives.

Dave had many jobs throughout his life. He worked at a gas station, was a semi driver for Greenheck, worked as a machinist at Wausau Engines, owned and operated his own pulp hauling business, built a gold mining machine, owned and operated a sawmill in Irma, Wis., retiring as a semi driver hauling mail between Rothschild and Marshfield.

Dave had a zest for life and a sense of adventure. He traveled to Alaska, hunted out West and tried his hand at gold mining in Montana. He collected hit and miss engines and loved flying remote airplanes and tinkering with anything mechanical. He had a very keen innovative mind when it came to fixing things.

Dave loved his visit to Alaska, going to auctions and steam engine shows. He also enjoyed his peanut butter cookies, chocolate milk, chocolate covered cherries, ice cream and chips.

Dave would laugh and enjoy a kid movie or cartoon like the Road Runner and Wile E Coyote. He had a great sense of humor that stayed with him till his final days.

Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Florence, and two brothers, Mark Weiler, Irma, Wis. and Kalto Weiler, Merrill, who were all present at his passing.

Dave has many friends and family that cared deeply about him and will dearly miss him, but takes comfort in knowing he is now pain free and no longer suffering.

The memorial mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Wausau. Rev. Thomas Huff will preside. Friends may call on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Wausau Daily Herald on Feb. 5, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for David Weiler

5 Entries

Chuck Frank

February 11, 2015

The reality of Dave's passing is now only beginning to sink in. After calling him a friend and neighbor for nearly fifty years, his passing will certainly leave a large void in my life.

One did not have to know Dave very long before realizing that people seemed to naturally gravitate towards him. Perhaps it was because he showed the same kindness and respect to everyone he met, or maybe it was the way he inspired people with his unlimited abilities with tools and torch. Whatever it was that attracted people to Dave, they were indeed better for having known him.

Dave was both creative and innovated and could do just about anything with his self-learned skills in welding, mechanics, electrical, and hydraulics. Long before Reality TV came along, Dave was rehabilitating, retrofitting, restoring, and repurposing, virtually everything he needed. Some of his creations that come to mind are a large windmill built with an old car axle, and a school bus he converted to a mobile deer hunting camp (and when the ceiling was too low, no problem he just cut the top off and raised it a foot). That bus made many trips to the mountains of Colorado. I also recall he put a snowmobile engine in a golf cart and diesel engines in trucks that were intended to run on gas. His last big project was building a completely mechanized firewood processor from what most would see as a pile of scrap iron.

Dave accomplished many things in life, but two of his greatest dreams were to elude him. He always wanted to fly a plane (preferably one he built himself), and he wanted to prospect for gold in Alaska. Sadly, time slipped away and his health declined to where he had to settle for flying model airplanes and searching for gold in Montana.

RIP dear friend, and may you find your gold and your wings in the next life.

February 7, 2015

WILL MISS YOU FOR EVER THE BEST UNCLE THAT TOOK ME OUT WEST HUNTING IN 1976 WHEN I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL ROBERT RYAN GLEASON WI

Dave and Bette Arends & family

February 5, 2015

We were sorry to hear of Dave's passing. I (Bette) remember him as a tall and kind man who loved to share hunting stories and other stories with my dad and and was always ready to laugh at some of the stories my dad shared.
He will be greatly missed. . . Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God comfort you. . .

Roger Cook

February 5, 2015

Please accept my sincerest condolences for the loss of Dave. Though we have not seen each other for years, both families are still in my thoughts often. I am sorry that I am not in the US at this time to attend services.