Charles Joseph Wieland, 79, Bethany, Mo. passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at a Kansas City, Mo. nursing home.
He was born on June 26, 1939 in St. Louis, Mo. He grew up on a dairy farm in Hillsboro, Mo. before graduating from St. Mary’s High School in St. Mary’s, KS in 1957. Charley earned a Bachelor Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University in 1962. After college, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served at Fort Leonard Wood as a mess steward. He continued to serve his country as a reservist, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant, until he was honorably discharged in 1969. Charley was employed as an engineer at both Valley Steel Products and Cupples Products Inc. during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In 1968, Charley married the love of his life, Jan Rauscher; together, they had four children. The two recently celebrated 51 years of marriage. In 1977, the Wieland family moved to Bethany, Mo. Charley had a strong desire to run a grain farm and raise his family in a rural setting with wholesome values. Bethany was a perfect fit. In the late 1970s, Charley started hauling and spreading fertilizer and ag lime with his neighbor and friend Darryl Fordyce. He grew the business over the years, eventually incorporating it as Wieland Hauling Inc. in 1998. His daughter, Julie, moved back to Bethany working with Charley on the business, and eventually took over the reins.
As a devout Christian, Charley was an active member in his church, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He taught Sunday school, served as lector and Eucharistic minister, and cooked countless breakfasts for the parish. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and served as Grand Knight of the council in Bethany. He was also active in the American Legion Post 216, serving as honor guard at local funerals. For years, Charley was a board member of the Fairview Cemetery Trust and facilitated the organization of the cemetery’s records.
Later in life, Charley pursued his passion for drag racing. The Ford powertrain designs he put together won many races at Thunder Valley Raceway. Two of his favorite cars over the years were the Charley Horse and Jan’s Jalopy. Charley earned Top Eliminator honors in 2000. He was also an avid gardener, growing okra, tomatoes, cantaloupes, asparagus, etc. In recent years, Charley enjoyed sitting on the porch swing while petting a furry buddy. He loved animals and they provided him many moments of enjoyment, laughter, and satisfaction.
Although employed as an engineer for only a few years after college, Charley continued to use his engineering skills and ingenuity to design and fabricate tools, implements, and vehicles on his farm and for his business. He spent many late nights doing calculations, sketching concepts, and working in his shop welding together his creations.
Charley will be remembered as a man of consummate integrity and forthright character. He modeled honesty and hard work and valued these traits in others. He strove to help all those in need, often going above and beyond for family, friends, and strangers alike. Charley loved and cherished time with family. He was quick with a joke and possessed a warm engaging personality. Genuine, friendly, welcoming, and wise, Charley made friends and loved ones wherever he went.
Charley is preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Irene Wieland, and by his son, Peter.
Charley is survived by wife, Jan; sister, Tess Sable; daughter, Julie Wieland-Cornelison and her husband, Adam; son, Dan and his wife, Deanell; daughter, Sarah Roach and her husband, Jimmy; and, five grandchildren, Deven, Dacey, Delaney, Logan, and Jordan.
Mass of Christian Burial was, June 29 at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Bethany, Mo. under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, Mo. Burial with Military Rites followed in Fairview Cemetery, Bethany, Mo. Parish Rosary was Friday at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, Mo. In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the Knights of Columbus Council 6983 or Catholic Charities in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, Mo. 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.