Eugene Peter Weidner

Our hearts as heavy with the passing of Eugene (Peter) Weidner – our Dad, the father of four, the grandfather of nine grandchildren, five great-grand children and the husband of 61 years of our Mom, Elaine Weidner.  Dad passed away on January 14 at the age of 89. We miss his smile and kind manner.

Dad was originally from Long Island, New York. He grew up very simply and was an only child. He attended public school and played the clarinet in the high school band.  While attending college, he decided to enlist in the military during the Korean War.  He enlisted in the Airforce, became a second lieutenant, and was stationed in California.  During his time in the service, Dad was a navigator.  He sometimes talked about the constellations and how he used his knowledge of the heavens to direct pilots.  After leaving the Airforce, Dad was hired at McDonald Douglas in Long Beach, where he later met our Mom.  After a short courtship, they married.  Dad adopted our older brother, Steven, and they began their own family, having three children – David, Dede and me -- Laurie. 

Our Dad was a consummate family man and very much a man of his generation – focused on his duties of providing and doing “Dad-like” things.  He enjoyed having his family around the dinner table each night – promptly at 6:30 p.m.  He was a meat and potatoes guy who smothered everything he ate with pepper. He cooked breakfast for us on Saturdays when we were young.  (His eggs were dry and stiff.  We learned to eat them topped with jelly.)  He helped us with our math and science homework, as he was an aerospace engineer by profession. (His nightly tutoring enabled two of his children to pass Geometry and Calculus!)  If we needed to be driven to a late-night band practice across town, he drove us there. He fixed things around the house, paid the bills and tried to provide the best life possible for us. He enjoyed taking us boating on weekends, camping in the summer, and to the mountains during the winter months for sledding. 

Dad never stopped working.  Some Dads take time to watch a ball game or take an afternoon nap.  Not our Dad!  If he wasn’t doing chores, he was working on a home improvement project or taking care of something for us.  And, this commitment to the service of others continued through the final months of his life.  He sacrificed himself for others, especially our Mom.  Pleasing her was his life’s mission. And, for the past four years, he served as her caregiver. Above all, his aim was to ensure her comfort and happiness.  Our earliest memories center on his deep caring for her.  After a very long day at work, which began before sunrise and a commute to Los Angeles, Dad would arrive like clockwork around 6 p.m. each night.  Before greeting any of us, he made his way to the kitchen to hug and kiss Mom.  No matter the chaos in the house with four children, his priority was always her.  This simple act of prioritizing his wife set an example of commitment for each of us. 

Dad was a man of few words.  He rarely talked about himself and his past.  He rarely expressed his preferences.  He preferred to be a quiet observer in family gatherings and social settings.  He never commanded attention and was happy to let others shine - unless we were playing cards or a board game with our family. Then, watch out!  His competitive side would surface in playful fun and lots of laughter.   He loved to play Hearts and he instilled in each of us a love of playing family games.  He also loved to share the jokes he heard at work with us over dinner and would wait to see our reaction with the punch line.

Dad never smoked, drank alcohol and rarely cursed.  In fact, the only time we ever heard him curse was when he was trying to repair one of our old cars!  He was friendly to everyone and will be remembered for his quiet manner and gentleness.   

After retirement, he and Mom traveled often. Over the years before illness set in, they traveled to Europe, to a family reunion in Canada, and to various states.  They bought an RV and took local trips as part of several camping clubs, including Goods Sams and one affiliated with Northrup.  He also regularly attended Northrup management gatherings for retirees and was active in the Garden Grove and Fullerton Elks Clubs, as well as the CSU Fullerton Jazz Society.  Even well into his 80s, he and Mom would drive each Friday night to the American Legion in Newport Beach to enjoy dinner with friends and dance.  Mondays they could be found listening to big band tunes and Dixieland jazz (one of Dad’s favorite musical genres) at El Patio in Anaheim.

My daughters, now in their 20s, were fortunate enough to grow up 4 miles from Papa Pete.  They have fond memories of family dinners at our home, his birthday parties, card games, watching Disney movies, and spending time playing in their backyard. 

My Dad will forever be my Umpy Lumpy.  I gave him that nickname as a kid.  His nicknames for me was Lor or Big Girl. These nicknames were something we shared.  As I think about Umpy, I am grateful for all that he did for me as both a youngster and as an adult -- for the sacrifices he made and the memories he created with me and my children.  I love the sea and boats and so does my sister, Dede.  We shared that passion with Umpy.  Dede and Dave are both gifted musicians.  They developed their love of music through our Dad. He loved listening to big band music featuring clarinetists like Pete Fountain.  And, as a young man he thought he might become a music teacher before working in the aerospace industry.  All three of us love nothing more than to have our beautiful families gathered around the dinner table, and so did he.  When we were all together, he was visibly joyful and proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grand children.

Umpy, we have no doubt that you are with the Lord.  We can’t wait to see you again at our family dinner table in heaven. 

Thank you for your legacy of love and for all the beautiful memories you have given each one of us.

Love,

Lor & Dave, Dede, Jessie, Katie, D.J., Teige, Christina, Michelle, Colton, Ashley, Amy, our spouses and great-grand babies.