Richard M. Weik

In Memory of the love of my life: Richard M. Weik, my husband, my friend, my champion.

Born: 27 July 1952, Died: 12 February 2015

Rich once told me that his obituary and tombstone ought to read "I lived, I died, what did you expect?" After much coaxing and explaining he finally said, "Ok just have a picnic." In order to follow at least some of his wishes, there will be a memorial picnic at his favorite fishing spot at Pottawattamie State Lake 2 in Manhattan, KS on the 16th of May weather permitting.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Merle O. Weik and Nancy (Brumley) Weik. He is survived by his wife Denise Alleman Weik and their son Michael, his step children Kim and Steve Goodbred, his sister Diann (Floyd) Handy and her daughter Keri Carlton, his brother John and wife Kim Weik.

Rich was raised in Streator, Illinois and graduated from Streator High School. He was an Eagle Scout, he learned many lessons from them and applied them to his life.

He worked many years as a metal fabricator (Illinois, Arizona, Kansas), but he was an artisan at heart and could create anything from cloth to steel and it was functional useful and perfect. I'm not exaggerating. Once we went camping and he made what I called a "tent city" it was three rooms added to the tent, using nothing but tarps, and rope. One of his favorite saying was, "Where there is rope, there is hope." Another time his truck broke down 40 miles from home the water pump was leaking and he needed a gasket to fix it. Nothing was open. He made the gasket out of an empty beer case and we were back on the road.

Rich always joked he had 'people skills', which was contradicted by every employee evaluation he ever got. They told him he should work on his "people skills." His "people skills" were the plain unvarnished truth, with blunt sarcasm, and a patronizing explanation if necessary. He gave everyone a chance to prove, to him they were worth his effort to get to know, and if you became his friend he would go to the ends of the earth to help you.

Rich loved being outdoors, whether it was boating, camping, fishing or just sitting on the porch from the first warm days of spring to the first frost of fall. That is where you could find him, tinkering with something to make it work better, or planning his next project. Fishing with his Father and brother John was his greatest joy. He had broken his ankle one year and still went to the lake to be with them cast and all.

Rich had a soft side that few knew, every day when he logged into his computer, he took the time to "click" to feed the pets at the Greater Good website. Both of our dogs Beau and Reggie came from the shelter, both were a gift from Rich to me because he knew how much I loved having pets.

Rich did not believe in holidays or birthdays or any special occasions like anniversaries or Christmas. He claimed that every day should be celebrated and that there shouldn't be a special days just to be nice. He made each day special - sometimes with flowers, sometimes with a hug, and sometimes by surprising me with very special gifts. The most special of those times was when he dragged me with him to the local Ford dealer, to "look at a truck" he wanted to buy. When we got there we went into the showroom and there was a white, convertible Mustang wearing a silver bow. I didn't pay much attention and asked Rich "Where is the truck?"

The salesman answered for him, "It's in the back getting cleaned up, but I have a picture of it here on my computer." When we sat to look he said, "I can't pull it up" and told the other salesman "you get the picture and I will talk to them about the truck in the mean time." Rich had snuck out of the room and the salesman started pushing me to buy the Mustang.

"No," I said, "we're here about the truck."

The salesman said, "Well okay, but how about if you help us surprise man who is supposed get the Mustang?" It struck me as odd, but I just said, "He's a lucky guy." That is when the salesman hit me in the arm and he handed me the keys to what I initially thought were the truck keys until I saw the Mustang logo. Rich had bought it for me because he knew it was a lifelong dream to get a car with bow on it, a convertible and a Mustang. I started crying. And Rich started laughing.

That was Rich. That is Rich. That is who he will be forever.

I want to give special thanks to Midland Care, our nurse Roberta and helper, Dawn, both made his time calm, comfortable, and peaceful for both of us. Thank you will all my heart, the entire staff is filled with the kindest most helpful people in the world.

Please give any memorial donations to Helping Hands Humane Society of Topeka (http://www.hhhstopeka.org/home0.aspx) or to Midland Care Hospice (http://www.midlandcareconnection.org/) in Rich's memory