Born to Helen and Alvan Wiegman, Don grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he attended Irvington Presbyterian Church. Following his graduation from Howe High School, Don hitchhiked to California and joined the U.S. National Forestry Service. His mother and younger sister, Caryl, soon joined him and the three shared a small apartment while working on degree programs at the University of California Berkley. Don would later graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Mathematics.
Joining the military in 1950, Don attended Signal Corp Officer Candidate School, was commissioned as a 2nd Lt., and trained as both a fixed wing and helicopter pilot. He had overseas tours of duty in Korea (1958-59), Germany (1964-67), and Vietnam (1968-69).
Early in his military career, while stationed at Gary AFB in San Marcos, Don agreed to fill in for one of his buddies on a blind date with an 18-year-old office assistant living in Austin, Texas. Don and Dorothy Norris were married in 1953. Their devotion to each remained strong throughout their 68-year marriage. Don’s 20-year military service would take the young couple and their two daughters to duty stations in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey; Ft. Rucker, Alabama; Ft. Gordon, Georgia; Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania; and Ft. Dix, New Jersey.
Following his honorable discharge in 1970, Don worked for the Internal Revenue Service as an enrolled agent until he and Dorothy opened Northeast Income Tax Service in San Antonio.
Mr. Wiegman is survived by his wife; daughters Linda Wiegman of Austin and Janet Helduser of College Station; granddaughters Jenna Helduser of Austin and Kylene King (Barrett) of San Antonio; and two great-grandsons Charlie and Travis King. Our family wishes to thank Hope Hospice of the Hill Country for their compassionate and expert care.
A graveside burial with military honors is planned for Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 2:15 pm (Shelter #2).