Donald J. “Don” Wiegmann
Donald J. “Don” Wiegmann age 80, of 1628 York in Quincy, died on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 10:58 p.m. in Blessing Hospital. Don was born September 23, 1929 in Quincy, a son of Earle and Mildred (Meyer) Wiegmann. He married Betty June Settle on April 28, 1951 in Quincy’s St. Boniface Catholic Church and she survives.
Don was a schoolteacher in Quincy for 30 years prior to his retirement in 1987. He was a 1947 graduate of Notre Dame High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Quincy College in 1958. He later received a master’s degree in elementary education from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville and completed additional graduate work at other schools. Don had an all-grade supervisory administrative certificate as well as his elementary teaching certificate.
He spent two years in the Far East during the Korean conflict serving as a signalman and navigation duty man. He also served locally as an instructor with the Navy Reserve Unit during which time he instructed navigation and visual communication training. In 1958, he was hired as a fifth grade teacher at Washington School, where he taught for 25 years. In later years, he taught at Baldwin South.
Don was a longtime member of the former St. Boniface Church, and had served on the St. Boniface School Board.
He was a member of the American Legion Post #37, the Knights of Columbus and the Retired Teacher’s Association. Don had many interests, he especially loved his plants, his cats, travel, collecting elephants and reading. He loved science and was always curious about the most modern gadgets. Don also enjoyed attending the reunions with his crewmates that served on the U.S.S. Henrico, an attack transport ship.
Survivors include his wife June, a daughter, Linda Davis-Swink and husband Steve of Quincy;
2 grandchildren, Nate Swink and wife Sabrina of Colorado Springs, CO; and Ariel Swink of St. Louis, MO;
two sisters, Pat Heckenkamp and husband Tom of La Cresenta, CA and Donna Yates and husband Don of Arvada, CA;
an aunt, Louise Waner of Golden, IL, nieces, nephews and a cousin also survive.
A Memorial Service is planned for Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with the Rev. John Carberry officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30 until the time of services on Wednesday. The family has requested that memorials be made in his name to Paw Pals or to the Quincy Humane Society.
www.dukerandhaugh.com
I am sorry for your loss. Mr. Wiegmann was my 5th and 6th grade teacher at Washington school from 1979 to 1981. He has always been my favorite teacher and I can still remember the fun he brought to school. Some of the things he did that made learning fun included making a volcano that erupted, he showed us how with “just a stare” he could cause a coffee can to crush, brought in foods from around the world (coconut milk is not as refreshing as Tarzan made it out to be). He fostered a love of science that led me to go to college and get my degree in Chemistry. I can still remember him playing floor hockey with us in the gym (his hair would get dissheveled). One time he captured hydrogen gas in a ballon and lit it (very impressive). He also taught us about electricity, he had a hand cranked generator (probably from an old military phone) that could deliver a nice jolt. I wish there were more teachers like Mr. Wiegmann around today. I will always be grateful for having had him for both 5th and 6th grade (the whole class was excited when he told us). I wish I had been able to tell him “Thank you”, he was a positive male role-model for a young boy. Thank you.
I fondly remember “Mr. Wiegmann” as my 5th grade teacher about 35 years ago.I came from a broken home that soon became a blended home and as you know alot of the children attending Washington school at that time had similiar families, most with financial difficulties.
Mr. Wiegmann definetely made the difference in my life! 5th grade was the best year of school I ever had. He was for me, a sort of father figure, and beloved teacher all rolled in one. He made it fun to learn and interesting everyday. I can remember coming home from school and being asked what I had learned that day. My answer always started with “Mr. Wiegmann said….” My family always said it was as if he ate supper with us since I did nothing but talk about him.LOL.
I am so sad about his passing but wanted you to know that he made a HUGE impact on my life. One of my sons has even gone on to become a teacher and I hope he does half as good a job as Mr. Wiegmann did.
Mr Wiegman was one of my favorite teachers of all time. I was in his last 6th grade class at Washington school 1983. My families prayers are with you and yours. God bless.