Robert John Weis

Robert John Weis took his last flight Home on the Wings of Angels on March 21, after a gallant battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born December 5, 1946 in Davenport, Iowa, to Robert Albert Weis and Anna Karas Weis. He was the older brother to 3 sisters: Patricia, Susan, and Cindy Weis. He was an honor graduate in 1965 of Central High School in Davenport where he lettered in wrestling and football. He wore #69 as he was the left guard who played offense, defense, and special teams. He was the only ever recipient of the “Golden Jock” award!! He was also an accomplished artist. He painted the store fronts in Davenport for their Christmas decorations. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and attended their National Jamboree in1960 in Colorado Springs celebrating fifty years of service.

Robert worked his way through college doing construction jobs. In 1969, he graduated from Iowa State with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He immediately started working for the General Electric Company in their Heavy Military Division and was their representative to the Atlantic Fleet. Later he worked for their Materials Handling Division and designed cranes used primarily for moving nuclear materials or bombs. He was licensed in Virginia as a Professional Engineer. He also obtained his Master of Business Administration in Management in 1990 from Golden Gate University.

As a young boy Robert always loved to watch airplanes and later took flying lessons eventually obtaining his pilot’s license followed by instrument and multi-engine ratings, and instructor certification. He taught many to fly and earn their pilot’s license. He also obtained his certification as an Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic and later his Inspector Authorization. His first airplane was a Piper Cherokee and his last airplane was a Beech Bonanza. He loved hanging out with the guys in the hangar at McKinnon airport.

Robert was also an excellent golfer, but his favorite sport was snow skiing. He skied all over the US and Canada as well as Europe. He spent a great deal of time in New England and skied with his Uncle Joe and Aunt Louise and their children. Uncle Joe was a great influential father figure for Robert as his own father passed away early in Robert’s life.

Robert met the “love of his life” in 1995 while visiting his sister on St. Simons Island when they sat down behind her at the movies (Boys on the Side) in Brunswick. Neile Rives lived & worked in Atlanta, but after a two-year long romance, they married and she moved to Virginia Beach, VA. to be with him. They were constantly flying their airplane along with their black Labrador Retrievers, and 2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and 2 birds, back and forth from Virginia to Georgia and to Canada to visit her daughter and grandchildren.

After several years they moved to Sea Island to the home Neile’s parents had built in the late 1970’s. They also spent much of their time in Hancock County, GA, in Neile’s ancestral home near Sparta which was built in 1795. Robert loved his time there and built her a tree house along with other improvements. They became very interested in viniculture and began making “kit wines” in the spare bathroom in their home on Sea Island, eventually planting vines and building a winery at their farm. Of course, Robert engineered everything “to death”! Cedar Green Plantation is the birthplace of the July Fox Hound Breed and has the only historical marker to a dog located near the highway there. Naturally, they named their wine: July’s Cry, as a hound dog “cries” rather than barks! It was lots of fun, but it soon fell back into the “hobby” category!

Robert also fell in love with SEC football and the Bulldogs after moving to Georgia. They would travel to their farm and from there on to Athens for the home games. Robert was never without at least one Labrador Retriever and their home was always filled with animals and flowers! Rhett was Robert’s last dog and he never left Robert’s side, especially when he became sick.

Robert’s favorite time of the year was Christmas and he loved to dress as Santa and visit the local nursing homes, churches, and Hofwyl Plantation. He spent months engineering all the decorations and lights on and around their home and with his own radio station that broadcast all the Christmas music for several blocks! He was the “Clark Griswold” of Sea Island! He also decorated for Halloween and he was a great Easter Bunny!

Robert was predeceased by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his loving wife, Neile, his step-daughter, Kim and her husband, John Reucassel, along with 4 step grandchildren, Rives, Elizabeth, Turner, and Parker Reucassel of Toronto, Canada. All adored Grandpa as the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, George Rives and his wife Eugenia. He is survived by his sisters, Patricia and her husband Gary Galloway, Susan Hopkins, Cindy and her husband Thom Nelson as well as nieces and nephews: Jason and Sydney Galloway, Meghan and Shane Hopkins and Dr. Brock Nelson DDS. He is also survived by a very special Aunt Louise!

The family would like to thank the staff at ZuZu’s Restaurant who always welcomed Robert and Rhett along with his nurse for ice cream at lunch! The staff at Addingtons Place were truly angels who took the best care possible of Robert as well as the angels from Hearth Hospice who helped lead him Home. There are no words to adequately express our gratitude and love to Palmer, his nurse, who took care of Robert, Rhett, and all of us with the greatest of love and devotion! Robert’s body will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 30, at 2 pm at Wesley Church at Frederica.

Please consider making a donation in Robert’s name to the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, 4627 US Hwy 17, 31525, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001.

Edo Miller and Sons are entrusted with the arrangements.