Obituary of Paul A. Wiese

Paul Alan Wiese, "Uncle Paul", 75, of Iowa City, suffered a severe stroke and passed away at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, on September 3, 2014. Paul chose to be cremated and his cremains will be interred at the family cemetery plot in Schaller, IA, in late-October, where a family memorial service will be held. At Paul's request, memorial gifts may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City and sent to Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service @ 2720 Muscatine Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240. Online condolences may be sent for Paul's family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Paul was born in Manning, IA, on July 28, 1939, to George and Wilma (Popp) Wiese. He graduated from Schaller Iowa High School in 1957 where he was a four-year letterman in all sports and won local and state awards in football and baseball. He attended the University of Iowa in 1957-58 where he became a member of Delta Upsilon social fraternity and the Dolphin Club. He also tried out and became a varsity cheerleader for the 1957 Hawkeye football team. Paul then went to work for Hart, Schafner, and Marks in Chicago and California as a men's clothing salesman from 1958 until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1962. He was an expert marksman and became a member of the military police, serving at Fort Ord, CA, and Fort Gordon, GA, before being transferred to Germany. He returned to Washington D.C. to serve with the military police units as Pentagon Guard, Presidential Escort, and Arlington Cemetery Guard. He was a member of the military police honor guard at President Kennedy's funeral procession ceremony in 1963. After an honorable discharge in 1965, for the next ten years, he continued selling men's and women's clothing apparel in Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia. He then settled in Charleston, WV, and was active in the oil well drilling and coal industries until an industrial accident fractured his back in 1979. In 1980, Paul came to Cleveland, Ohio, for repair surgery on his back and was invited to live with brother Jim and his wife Nancy in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Paul's two nephews (Andy and Ned) and niece (Kate) were involved in several school sports and music activities and Paul became an enthusiastic fan and follower. Before long, he became affectionately known as "Uncle Paul" throughout the community. With the family, he continued to follow Andy's track career with the University of Iowa track team (1983-87), becoming close friends with Andy's track coach Ted Wheeler, and being known as "Uncle Paul" to Iowa Track team members for several years. Paul continued to live with Jim and Nancy when they retired to the Iowa City area in early 1993. Since that time, he has made many new friends, particularly his many pals at the North Liberty American Legion Club, where "fishing" stories were plentiful! He was an avid sports enthusiast his entire life and he followed his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes throughout the years. Paul loved humor; he was a very interesting , likeable and fun-loving character who highly valued his many friendships. He was admired for his resilience in battling lung cancer and several other medical problems over the last several years. Paul will be greatly missed by all who knew him! Paul is survived by his brother Jim (and wife Nancy whom Paul has called a "saint" for letting him live with the family for over 30 years) of Iowa City; and his sister, Mary (Ron) Rydberg of Schaller, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his younger sister, Susan and his younger brother, Tommy. Services are being provided by Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City.