Carl Wieber

A dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, Carl L. "Doc" Wieber will be remembered for his hard work, easy going personality and tremendous way with people. Richly blessed, Carl was committed to his faith and his loving family was his most precious gift. He will be lovingly missed and fondly remembered by those who knew and loved him.

As World War I raged overseas the quiet rural community of Fowler, Michigan was far removed from the battlefields in Europe. As families faced loved ones going off to war, American homes were being built incorporating the light switch and manufacturing of the home refrigerator had begun. In the midst of their changing world, news of the day for Frank and Rosa (Thelen) Wieber was the birth of their baby boy Carl on August 29, 1916. His parents' supported their family of four boys and five girls by co-owning and operating the Wieber Lumber Yard in town and through the family business Carl, or “Doc” as he was nicknamed as a youngster, learned the value of hard work.

Times were lean and for extra money, Doc peddled the Grand Rapids Press newspaper as a young boy. Although many new homes in the city had modern day conveniences, Carl often recalled the many times he helped cut wood and hauled it into the house for cooking at the stove or for heating. Plumbing was an added luxury not afforded to many rural families and he did his fair share of pumping water from the well for the family to use for cooking, bathing and drinking. Each Sunday was spent as a family attending Mass and enjoying a family meal together but the day was extra special for Doc when he received a penny to buy an ice cream to enjoy. He learned to drive at the age of 14 by watching his Dad and brothers but his experience driving really paid off and came in handy at the lumber yard.

St. Joseph School provided Doc with his early education and growing up in Fowler offered much adventure for a young boy like Doc. He enjoyed spending time with friends and loved to roller skate up and down the sidewalks. After completing the 5th grade he went on to attend the new school in town, Most Holy Trinity through the 10th grade where he excelled in his studies. He possessed great abilities and loved the subjects of chemistry, physics and history. Doc completed his high school years at Fowler High School where he not only kept up exceedingly well with his studies but was on staff with the Fowler school newspaper, “Hi-Lights” as well. An all around guy, Carl lettered in basketball and baseball, too. With his independent nature, he set out in 1934 at the age of 17 and hitchhiked all the way to Chicago, Illinois to attend the World’s Fair and it remained an experience he would always remember. He went on to graduate in 1935 with the honor of being named Valedictorian of his class.

During the years and hardships of the Depression a light in Doc’s life was a girl he had known his whole life through. He and Rita Simon had been an item for years and in time became quite smitten. They loved spending Sunday afternoons together driving around with no destination in mind. On one drive in particular and after seven years of dating, Carl “finally” proposed to Rita. It was a day Rita had been patient for and each of their families and many friends had hoped for. Blessed in marriage on April 29, 1961, Carl and Rita began a lifelong commitment of love together and became equally blessed when they welcomed the birth of their daughter Rosemary in 1963 followed by Patty in 1966. Members of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Wieber family was devout members. Many happy memories were made throughout the years as they traveled visiting family and friends and enjoyed the warmth of wonderful holidays together. As a family great times was shared attending Detroit Tiger baseball games and walking the Mackinaw Bridge every Labor Day.

Carl was a hard and industrious worker who provided a good life for his family. As co-owner of the family lumber yard, he was a great businessman and had a natural flair with people. Outgoing and personable, he enjoyed talking to everyone and became involved in his community. As a 60 year member at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Carl served there as an usher and later in life volunteered delivering for the Meals on Wheels program for 20 years. He loved his lifelong home of Fowler and remained there his whole life through. He took great pride in the Village of Fowler and loved to share its history. He in general liked all history but especially found Civil War history to be interesting.

After he retired in 1984 from the family business he and Rita took time to travel. They made several trips to Germany to visit family and spent time in Florida with their beloved granddaughters. Together they volunteered each month at the Hazel Findlay Country Manor bingo games and found great enjoyment doing so. This time during their retirement years strengthened Carl and Rita’s love and respect for one another. They were the best of friends and enjoyed a very close relationship throughout the years and were always together. When Rita's health began to decline in 2005, she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2006. It crushed Carl to see his beloved Rita hurt in any way. Following her death in 2007 life for Carl was not the same. He continued living at home in Fowler and suffered with health issues of his own, especially congestive heart failure. With his two loving daughters Rosemary and Patty by his side, Carl peacefully died on Monday, October 5, 2009 at the age of 93.

Carl is survived by his daughters, Rosemary (Joseph) Brown of Tampa, Florida and Patty Wieber of Lansing, Michigan; granddaughters, Marissa Brown and Kelsey Brown, both of Tampa, Florida; two sisters, Therese Weber and Judy (Jesse) Castillo; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Wieber; brother-in-law, Charles Simon; many nieces and nephews. Besides his wife Rita, Carl was also preceded in death by three brothers, Mark, Giles and Leon Wieber; three sisters, Jeanette “Midge” Omaha, Rosalyn Brown and Joan Simon; and three infant brothers.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 9, 2009 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler with burial following at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery. The Mass will be officiated with Rev. Fr. Tom Thompson. The family will receive friends at the George Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, 11112 W. Ionia St. in Fowler on Wednesday and Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Rosaries will be prayed Wednesday and Thursday at 3:00 and 8:00 PM. Sympathy may be expressed through memorial contributions to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund or to Tri-County Meals on Wheels. To learn more about Carl and view his Life Story film, visit his personal webpage at

www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory, photo and sign his online guest book.