Donald Wiese

Don died peacefully on August 16, 2022 at the age of 93. He is survived by his children, Donna (Paul Arbisi), Mike (Debi), Tom (Janine Brown), Laura (Mike Martin), 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Central Lutheran Church, 333 E. 12th St. in Minneapolis on August 27, 2022 at 11:00. Livestream at centralmpls. org. Memorials preferred to Central Lutheran Church or the University of Minnesota Law School. Don’s family sincerely thanks the staff at The Waters of Plymouth who kindly cared for both Don and Shirley through health and illness. One of Don’s avocations, among many, was writer. And so, in his own words written in 2012, long before he lost Shirley:

"And Then" Well, it’s over. The end was not so bad and, although I can now feel a pull to get on with it here, I can peek in on the funeral before Icatch the train for what Ithink is a ballgame. Nice rainy day down there, not too warm. Not quite the crowd I’d expected, but then Iwas pretty old when I finally checked out. All the grandchildren made it, busy as they are. The children and spouses are taking it a little harder than I wish they would, but they will be OK. And there is Shirley. This is hard for her. When you are an item for 5 years and then married for way over 60 years, it is hard for one to see down any road that does not include the other. But time will help and soon we will be together again. The music was great, and no eulogies thank God. The minister gave the straightforward Christian message, but if they really knew me, it would have been titled “Expectancies Exceeded, Possibilities Virtually Untouched’. Lunch was the classic Jello and potato salads, cookie and coffee. Short. As I watch this event, something (I don’t seem to be in total control here) is forcing me to think back over my life: all that has happened, all the people Ihave met, and all periods of my life, whether Iwant to remember or not. I am told about the terrible weather on the 2nd of February 1929, the day I was born, when Dad had to shovel all the way from the farmhouse to the main road to get the doctor in; and I remember the cold and heat and the amount of snow that had to be shoveled in the 1930’s. I remember the peanut butter sandwiches we had to keep in the cloakroom in the country school lest they freeze solid before our noon lunchtime. I remember high school in LeSueur, my brother going to the Second World War, and my mother and father worrying as they continued working hard. I remember hunting along the line fence with my best friend. I remember when Shirley and I got together when we were barely 17 and her putting up with me the rest of the way. I remember attending the U of M Law School and the subsequent law practice; the work with the Golden Valley school board, the work with the Bar Association, and our house in Golden Valley. I remember all the games as player, coach and fan, from the LeSueur Farmers to the last grandchild’s last game I got to watch. I remember the slow down years; dodging the bullet for as long as we did, learning how to live with some physical limitations, both Shirley’s and mine. I remember the satisfaction I got from watching our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren grow up, and the unmitigated blessing they always were. Finally, I remember with grateful appreciation all the people with whom we had the good fortune to live, the things large and small that helped us along the way, and for the good luck and proper direction we received. I have the feeling it is time to go. Someone is waiting for me. Perhaps this is when I find out whether all those hours sitting in the church pew are going to pay off. I have a good feeling about it. I saw Jesus warming up his arm a few minutes ago and he said it felt good. After all, if Jesus is pitching for me, what do I really have to worry about? Here comes the train. See you all soon. Best regards and thanks for everything, Don Wiese