Vernon Wieking

Vernon E. Wieking, age 83, of Willmar, died Tuesday afternoon, October 19, at the Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.

Memorial service will be held at 2 P.M., Saturday, October 30th, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar. Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the church. The interment was held earlier and was private at the Oak Hill Cemetery in New London. Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.

Vernon Ernest Wieking was born August 8, 1927 in Ashe Creek, Minnesota, the son of Peterka "Pearl" (Drost) Wieking. He was baptized at the State Line German Church near Ash Creek. Vern grew up and attended school in the Laverne, Minnesota area. He took over running the farm and helping his mother raise his two younger brothers at the age of twelve after his father was killed by a fatal gun shot accident. For a time Vernon served in the National Guards in Minnesota and Iowa. On June 28, 1949 he was married to Dona Lou Stuckenbroker and they made their home in Luverne, Minnesota for a time. They moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where Vern worked for the Great Northern Railroad as a switchman. They lived there until around 1951 when he was transferred to Willmar with the railroad. Vern attend school at the Alexandria Vocational Technical Institute and opened his own business in Willmar, Willmar TV, Refrigeration and Appliance. He and Dona ran the business for over 42 years.

He has been member of Redeemer Lutheran Church since 1951, served for 19 years as a member of the Willmar Volunteer Fire Dept., was a member of Willmar Eagles for 30 years and served on the Advisory Committee at Alexandria Vocation Technical School regarding appliance repair and refrigeration. Vern was an avid sportsman, hunting in Montana and Wyoming for deer and antelope and in Canada for moose. He enjoyed fishing and camping with his family on trips to California and Texas, motor cycling with Dona and family and was a recreational airplane pilot.

He is survived by his wife, Dona of Willmar; three daughters, Melody Mousavi of Richfield, Dawn West of Richfield and Jana Wieking of St. Cloud; a son, Mark Wieking Salt Lake City, Utah; three grandchildren, Christine, Nathan and Ellie; a great-grandchild, Chole; and several nieces, nephews and cousins; besides other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Nelly Heikes; and two brothers, Henry "Curly" and Elmer "Bob" Wieking.