Gerhard Weiler

Gerhard (Gary) Weiler died Thursday, March 4, 2021, at age 81. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his children: Cheryl (Terry) Back, Chuck (Amy) Weiler and Mike Weiler; and grandchildren: Logan (Dom Anderson) Back, Griffin Back, and Kelsey (Elliot) Marshall. He is also survived by siblings: Jerome (Sally) Weiler, Ken (Jane) Weiler, Koni Krueger, Glenn Weiler and Joan (Dave) Romens; in-laws: Susie Jablonic, Val (George) Himes, Larry (Sandy) Fritz, Harry Hanson, Laurie (LaVerne Shilts) and Gary (Chris) Fritz; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and a few great-grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Gary was born in the Town of Bern near Athens in 1939 to Pete and Marie Weiler and grew up on the family farm there and later in Colby. After graduating from Colby High School, he entered the Army and served in the Army Reserves while starting his work career. A few years later he married Sharon Fritz, and together they raised a family, owned and operated a dairy farm, and supported each other through careers, house rehabs, and adventures in Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota before retiring in Phoenix, Ariz. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this summer.

Over the years, Gary worked for American Motors in Kenosha, Harmony Co-op and Toelle Surge Service in Colby, and then farmed in the Town of Colby while working as a truck driver for Foremost Foods and Koch Fuels. He left farming to hold multiple positions with Koch Industries, including transportation dispatcher, district manager, and Great Lakes division manager. He later worked as a crew supervisor for a landscape company, and he finished his career as a depot supervisor for Case New Holland. Gary is remembered as a wearer of hats, collector of farm toys, connoisseur of tools, player of cards, worker of wood, and negotiator of deals who displayed a quiet pride in his family and was always willing to lend an ear to listen or a hand to help. Family and friends alike will miss his quick wit, big smile, ready laugh, and great bear hugs.

The family will hold a celebration of life on July 24 in Wisconsin and next winter in Arizona. Memorials may be designated to the United Hospital Foundation, Heart and Vascular Clinic, 333 Smith Ave N, Suite 4650, St Paul, MN 55102 or online at https://www.allinahealth.org/unitedhospital/ foundation. All memorials will be dedicated to research and education.

Paid obituary 103111