Obituary for William H. "Bill" Wiedmaier
William H. “Bill” Wiedmaier, 92 years old, passed away peacefully in his sleep just before midnight December 31, 2021, at the Topeka VA Medical Center Rehab Unit.
Private immediate family only Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, January 7th, 2022, at St. Ann’s Church with Fr. Hughes Sundeme as Celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Cemetery. A public parish rosary will be held at 6:00 pm on Thursday, Jan. 6th with visitation to follow until 8:00 pm at the Becker Chapel, 402 3rd St., Effingham, KS. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Effingham Town & Country Senior Center or the Amberwell Health at Home and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Bill was born May 5, 1929, in St Joseph Missouri, to Herman and Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Kneib) Wiedmaier, He grew up during the Dust Bowl and remembered seeing clouds of dust blacking out the sun. He received his first Communion at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wathena November 20, 1938. He graduated from 8th grade and started working construction. In later years, he earned his G.E.D.
In 1951, he was drafted into the Korean War and served his country until 1953 as a Mortar Squad Leader, Med Aid and Infantry Soldier carrying a BAR into North Korea. He was wounded in action on August 14, 1952, near Chorwon, North Korea. He received a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and two Battle Stars. He would carry 16 pieces of Shrapnel with him the rest of his life.
After he returned, he started working construction for F. P. Gehring in Atchison, and also continued farming until 2000 when they moved to Effingham. He then worked for Fort Leavenworth, and finally at ACCHS in Effingham until he retired at 83.
He often saw the love of his life, Pauline Oswald walking home from work several times and would whistle at her, one day following her home. On February 19, 1955, they were married at the St. Joseph’s Church in Atchison. They lived south of Atchison near Parnell when son Gary was born. Then they moved ½ mile east of Effingham when son Tim was born. They bought a farm in 1964 southwest of Effingham and began a dairy operation, living there until they retired from farming in 2000 and moved to Effingham.
Bill is survived by a sister, Pat Oswald of Effingham, a son Tim (Sharon) of Tecumseh. A daughter-in-law Debbie (Don Falk) of Effingham. Grandchildren: Curtis (Stacy) Wiedmaier, Barrett, Conrad & Aubrey of Muscotah. Lori (Greg) Peterson, Allyson & Ethan of Effingham. Chris (Erin) Wiedmaier, Luke, Cody & Rylee of Aubrey TX. Sheena Christopher, Isabel & Nathaniel of Topeka. Step-grandchildren: Paul (Stacie) Vincent, Ramona & Charles of Houston, TX. Ryan (Melissa) Vincent, Carter & Peter of Topeka. And Katie (Dustin) Schirer, Wes & Wren of Prairie Village, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pauline, & his son Gary. Also by his brothers: Herman Jr., Clarence, Calvin, Ernest, Ermit, Charles & Donoven.
Private immediate family only Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, January 7th, 2022, at St. Ann’s Church with Fr. Hughes Sundeme as Celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Cemetery. A public parish rosary will be held at 6:00 pm on Thursday, Jan. 6th with visitation to follow until 8:00 pm at the Becker Chapel, 402 3rd St., Effingham, KS. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Effingham Town & Country Senior Center or the Amberwell Health at Home and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Bill was born May 5, 1929, in St Joseph Missouri, to Herman and Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Kneib) Wiedmaier, He grew up during the Dust Bowl and remembered seeing clouds of dust blacking out the sun. He received his first Communion at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wathena November 20, 1938. He graduated from 8th grade and started working construction. In later years, he earned his G.E.D.
In 1951, he was drafted into the Korean War and served his country until 1953 as a Mortar Squad Leader, Med Aid and Infantry Soldier carrying a BAR into North Korea. He was wounded in action on August 14, 1952, near Chorwon, North Korea. He received a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and two Battle Stars. He would carry 16 pieces of Shrapnel with him the rest of his life.
After he returned, he started working construction for F. P. Gehring in Atchison, and also continued farming until 2000 when they moved to Effingham. He then worked for Fort Leavenworth, and finally at ACCHS in Effingham until he retired at 83.
He often saw the love of his life, Pauline Oswald walking home from work several times and would whistle at her, one day following her home. On February 19, 1955, they were married at the St. Joseph’s Church in Atchison. They lived south of Atchison near Parnell when son Gary was born. Then they moved ½ mile east of Effingham when son Tim was born. They bought a farm in 1964 southwest of Effingham and began a dairy operation, living there until they retired from farming in 2000 and moved to Effingham.
Bill is survived by a sister, Pat Oswald of Effingham, a son Tim (Sharon) of Tecumseh. A daughter-in-law Debbie (Don Falk) of Effingham. Grandchildren: Curtis (Stacy) Wiedmaier, Barrett, Conrad & Aubrey of Muscotah. Lori (Greg) Peterson, Allyson & Ethan of Effingham. Chris (Erin) Wiedmaier, Luke, Cody & Rylee of Aubrey TX. Sheena Christopher, Isabel & Nathaniel of Topeka. Step-grandchildren: Paul (Stacie) Vincent, Ramona & Charles of Houston, TX. Ryan (Melissa) Vincent, Carter & Peter of Topeka. And Katie (Dustin) Schirer, Wes & Wren of Prairie Village, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pauline, & his son Gary. Also by his brothers: Herman Jr., Clarence, Calvin, Ernest, Ermit, Charles & Donoven.