Donald K. Weidner

A Celebration of Life for Donald Kenneth Weidner, 84, of Glenrock, will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 4:00 P.M. at Hope Church, 411 S. Walsh Dr. in Casper with pastors Wes Connell and Fred Bruner officiating. A reception will follow. Don went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 25, 2015.

Don was born on Dec. 1, 1930 in Crete, Nebraska to George and Louise (Beenders) Weidner. He was the youngest of three children. As a child he would ride along with his father who operated a motor grader for the county. This is when he discovered a love for operating heavy equipment. He attended school through the ninth grade, and later enlisted in the Navy, where he served on the destroyer the USS Lyman K Swenson. After the Navy, he moved to Galesburg, IL where, after working briefly for the local railroad, he operated a gas station with his older brother Eddie.

Returning to eastern Nebraska, Don began working in a rock quarry. He soon purchased his own equipment and went into business for himself as a conservation contractor, building dams and terraces for farmers. During the construction of the Ag building on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln, he was a crane operator. He was a volunteer firefighter and served as chief for the S.W. Rural Fire District in the Martell/Kramer area for several years.

In 1972, Don met Judith Rae Chrisinger and they were married in Lincoln, NE on December 1st. After spending their first months together in Nebraska, the newlyweds moved to Texas, where Don ran equipment on a government project for nine months. After completion of the job, Don sold his equipment and the couple returned to Lincoln. In Sept. of 1975, Don and Judy moved to Shirley Basin, where Don operated heavy equipment at the Lucky Mac/Pathfinder uranium mine. During the years which followed, they raised three sons; Fritz, Kris, and Joel. They moved to Glenrock in 1992 where they have since made their home. After retiring from the mine in 1994, Don worked frequent jobs for Phipps Construction and spent many summers operating heavy equipment for Joe Phipps and his brother John (up until last year at the age of 83!)

Don was very intuitive, a talented artist, and a gifted, self-taught builder. He enjoyed sketching equipment and putting his building ideas down on paper. He loved building with wood and completed numerous projects over the years from stools and toys to desks, book cases, and large structures. He built 2 family rooms along with a garage with an attached shop, remodeled their mobile home, and refinished several pieces of furniture. He also enjoyed restoring antique tractors.

Never one to sit around, Don was quick to lend a helping hand and offer his talents to anyone he knew. He was active in his church and helped with several remodeling/construction projects and he felt privileged to help Pastor Bill Pierce build his church, Imitate the Image, in North Casper. From 1997 to 2001, Don was a crew chief for World Changers in Casper. He was active in Promise Keepers both in Glenrock and for several years, in Casper. Don's commitment to Jesus Christ was paramount and evident. Wherever he went, and in all that he did, he used his ability to build to serve and reach others for Christ. He gave sacrificially of his time, finances, and talents to bless others. He was a devoted husband and a loving father and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Judy, of Glenrock; sons Fritz (Sarah), of Coleman, WI; Kris (Britta) of Green River, WY; Joel (James) of Troy, NY; granddaughters Hannah, Naomi, Elizabeth, and Abigail of Coleman, WI; 5 nephews, 2 nieces, and 2 cousins; adopted granddaughter Stephanie LaPointe of Casper; adopted niece Sandy Ragland of Bellevue, KS; and best friend, brother-in-Christ, and coffee buddy, Don Darnall of Glenrock. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eddie, and sister, Eloise.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don's name may be made to the family.