Willfrid George Wieske

Willfrid G. Wieske, 92, of Grawn, Michigan, passed away Friday, November 15, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. Born August 2, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, he was the son of the late Willfrid A. Wieske and Josephine Emma (Frantz) Wieske.

Willfrid (Bill) was a 1946 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Detroit, Michigan, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 38th Infantry at Camp Carson, Colorado. He married Mary Margaret Bohn in 1951. He retired in 1983 after 31 years of service with the City of Detroit, Department of Parks and Recreation.

Bill loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing and especially hunting. He was a lifelong Michigan Bowhunter realizing his last harvest at the age of 90. In his later years he used a compound bow and always stated that he wasn’t old enough for a crossbow. He was a young boy scout and remained involved in scouting through to his adult life where he was a scoutmaster for many years providing direction, coaching and support for his own sons and helped many boys develop into good men. He received a special kind of joy and fun every time he took a group of boys on a field trip or camping, especially the memorable trip to Isle Royale. Former scouts still comment on how much “Mr. Wieske” had touched their lives.

Bill was very involved with the American Indian community and tanned his own deer hides the “Old Indian Way.” He enjoyed quill work, beading, lapidary work and gardening. He was a long-standing member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and held many positions including president at the Ossineke post.

Bill was a man of strong faith and made sure that his sons and daughters knew how much they were loved. He was a tall man with a big heart and friendly smile. His death has left a tremendously big gap in all of us.

Bill is survived by his son Thomas Wieske (Mary), daughter Diane Smith (Rick), daughter Judith Wieske, son Daniel Wieske (Deb), son Kenneth Wieske (Mary), fourteen loving grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, brother George Wieske (Dolores), sister Trudy Urbani, brother Thomas P. Wieske (Betty), many nieces, nephews and extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents Josephine and Willfrid A. Wieske, his wife Mary Margaret Wieske, Gertrude (Andrzejewski) Wieske, daughter Martha Wren and brother Gerald Wieske. Bill was a loving father, husband, grandfather and friend to everyone.

A special thank you to the people at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City for their loving care and support during his final days.

Visitation will be from 10:00 until 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Saturday, November 23. A Catholic funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 followed by a luncheon in the church hall. The burial will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens in Traverse City, Michigan, at 2:00 PM with full Military Funeral Honors. For those desiring, the family has asked that Bill be remembered through memorial gifts to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 Eighteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20006-3517 or St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105