Raymond L. Wiechman

Raymond L. Wiechman, 91, of Washington, Kansas, died Thursday, August 11, 2011 at the Linn Community Nursing Home in Linn, Kansas. A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 15, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Greenleaf. Pastor Timothy Lorenz officiated. Jared Hatesohl played the organ while the congregation sang "Lift High the Cross", “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” and “Ye Watchers & Ye Holy Ones.” Pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons, Tyler Finlayson, Ryan Finlayson, Corey Finlayson, Casey Finlayson, Trevor Kraft, Jeff Finlayson, Bruce Finlayson and Zach Finlayson. Burial was in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Raymond was born June 10, 1920, on a farm in the Chepstow community south of Barnes, Kansas, son of Adolph and Clara (Wieters) Wiechman. On June 13, 1920, he was baptized at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church south of Barnes. In 1934, he was confirmed at the church. He attended Chepstow School, Cream Hill School and later Brown School, all being one room schools. Growing up on the farm during the Great Depression was a lot of hard work. He attended Swallow Aircraft School and worked at Beach Aircraft for three years. In the fall of 1942, Raymond joined the Army Air Corps and served his country until being honorably discharged in December 1945. After being discharged, he started farming west of Greenleaf, Kansas. On June 21, 1942, he married his sweetheart, Dora Louise Osbourn, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. They moved to a farm near Barnes in the Maplewood community. Raymond farmed in Washington County for nearly 50 years. He also worked construction about four years during the building of the Tuttle Creek Dam near Manhattan, Kansas. Upon retiring Raymond and Dora moved to Washington. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling. Most of all he enjoyed time with family. He loved the Lord and was a long time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Wilbert Wiechman and Elmer Wiechman; brothers-in-law, Earl Reisen and Albert Reinhardt; sisters-in-law, Nadine Wiechman, Norma Wiechman and Dorothy Wiechman; and son-in-law, Eugene Allen Hildebrand. Survivors include his wife, Dora; daughters, Karen Sue Finlayson Hildebrand, Burlington, KS, Marsha Ann Wiechman and her life partner, Patsy Kerschner, Frankfort, KY, Colleen Faye Finlayson and husband, Donald of Tucson, AZ; brothers, Robert Wiechman, Kiowa, KS, Ervin Wiechman and wife, Wilma, Valley Center, KS; sisters, Ila Reinhardt, Fort Worth, TX, and Esther Reisen, Tucson, AZ; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. A memorial fund has been established to the church. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, 115 W 2nd, Washington, KS 66968 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond L. Wiechman, please visit our flower store.