Joseph Weigel
December 18, 1948 ~ May 16, 2015
Joseph A. Weigel, age 66, of Los Angeles CA, died Saturday, May 16, 2015 in his home under the care of hospice after a very short but courageous battle with cancer.
Joe was born on December 18, 1948 in Oakes, ND, the son of Rokus and Barbara (Ziegler) Weigel.
He was baptized, received his first Holy Communion, and was confirmed at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oakes where he also went to grade school. He attended one year of high school in Oakes and then went on to three years of high school at Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo, ND. He received his B.A. Degree from NDSU and his Master’s Degree from Moorhead State University. He also attended the Seminary of Saint Paul for four years, and was ordained a priest in June of 1973. He later left the priesthood to pursue teaching. After leaving Fargo in 1980, he taught at a catholic school in Springfield, Oregon for two years. He then went to California where he taught for two years in a Japanese school for gifted children in Bellflower, CA. He then moved to the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he taught for the past 31 years. He was to retire on June 5, 2015 but God had other plans.
His greatest hobby was square dancing, he loved to travel, going to the movies, plays, operas, museums, walking and hiking. Joe was known for his kindness, gentleness, sensitivity, and great love for his mother. He loved life, and was dedicated to teaching and learning.
Joe is survived by his mother, Barbara Weigel, of Fargo; brother, Eugene (Teresa) Weigel, Fargo; sister, Debra Weigel (Jonathan McCutcheon) Pembina, ND; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and many cousins; special friends: Brian Vaughan, Bill (Sara) Phelps, Irene Reingold, Steven Leu, Bob Skinner, John Crimm, and Sybil Armen.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rokus “Roy” Weigel; baby sister, Jacqueline Kay, his grandparents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Along with Joe, may they all rest in peace.
A Memorial Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo.
Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery North, Fargo.
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Aloha from Hawaii, dear Joe,
I will always remember how you nurtured me at Foshay and how we listened to Hawaiian music in my room at lunchtime. You were a wonderful friend to me. I will never forget your kindness.
Mahalo,
Marianne
You were a true gentlemen. Rest in peace until we all get up there with you to all make a square dance in heaven.
We’ll be thinking of you every time we dance
Joe, we had some great times. I was happy to celebrate our birthdays together. It is good that our paths crossed and we became friends. I will miss you.
So very sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. He was a neat person and I always enjoyed square dancing with him. His smiling face will be missed.
Was very shocked and saddened to hear of Joe’s passing. The IAGSDC losses a good soul this week.
I fondly remember square dancing with Joe. Much sympathy to you.
Joseph was always such a joy to be in the company of during my square dancing visits in Weho , when arriving with our shoreline squares club Joseph really made us all feel so welcome and provided such a hospitable hosting during the dances . Your radiant smile and laugh will be missed , but knowing your getting much more heavenly dance time now keeps your memory fresh in a all our hearts —
From your long beach shoreline squares friends ! With all of our love
I remember Joe would always see me across the hall and make a point to say hi! His great smile and personality touched so many people. We will miss you Joe!
Gordon Macaw
All Join Hands Foundation
Joe was a friend missed deeply. Wish we had met again before he left us. God bless you old buddy!
Our prayers are with you and your family.
Jerel &Shel
I’m really going to miss you, Joe. You always had a smile on your face and a kind word to say. Always appreciated your support at my dances. Palm Springs won’t be the same without you. God bless you.
Weigel family, sorry for your loss. Comfort and peace be with you.
Edgeley
It was such a joy dancing with all these years. I was very fortunate to dance with him at PACE in the Thanksgiving weekend. I am glad we got to talk a little bit and hugged each other goodbye. I will miss you.
I met Joe through square dancing. His joy and kindness will be missed. Yellow Rock. (Square dance talk for big hugs) see you in a square soon, dear friend Joe.
Dolly, Eugene, Debbie… sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. Was not aware that he had been fighting an illness. Comfort and peace to you all
My condolences to Mrs. Weigel and family. I knew Joe many years ago when he was at St. Mary’s, and I will always remember his beautiful smile and wonderful laugh! He was a good friend and a great support to me, and he always had such a positive outlook on everything in life, even as he dealt with cancer the first time, way back then.
I am sad that I lost touch with him; I most certainly will never forget him. Rest in Peace, Joe. You have earned your heavenly reward.
With sympathy,
Jay Goerger, Fargo
Dear Weigel family,
So sorry to hear about Joe. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Betty
I will miss you my good friend. We shared many good times which I will treasure in my heart. I will keep you in my thoughts as I revisit the many places and events that we have enjoyed together these past 18 years. Rest in peace.
My deepest sympathy and prayers to Mrs Weigel and all Joe’s family and friends in California and afar. I admired Joe’s gentle ways and deep compassion for all. He was and remains a treasured friend who blessed my life for the past few years here in Palm Springs. Deep peace to him and all the family.
Dear Joe, I have enjoyed so much square dancing with you over the years, at all the different clubs that we have both frequented. I will truly miss you. Rest in peace. Yellow Rocks! Love, Jane
I had the immense pleasure of knowing Joe for over 30 years. We met when he worked in Oregon through his devout love and service. While our journeys parted, we re-met when I got involved in square dancing, in 2009. His smile, wisdom, and caring spirit allowed Joe to touch so many people. My condolences to his close friends and family. Please know that Joe will always be remembered for his love and honesty.
Joe I will miss your smile always present in a square. God speed dear friend.
I was so surprised and sad to hear about Joe. I spent a lot of time with him in Palm Springs, and at various square dance events. He was sweet, and kind, and friendly, and had a wonderful smile. I didn’t know him very well, but I considered him a friend and always looked forward to seeing him. I’ll miss him, and I know so many others will as well. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
I was sad to hear of Joe’s passing. I am a member of Times Squares in New York and met Joe while dancing in LA. I always enjoyed dancing with him and always looked forward to seeing him at square dance events. His happy face and joyful attitude never failed to cheer me. He will be greatly missed.
Joe, you were one of the kindest people I’ve known, always with a smile on your face. Square dance events didn’t feel complete without a dance (or several!) with you. Your presence is missed, but you’ll be with us in our hearts always.
We’ll miss Joe’s warm and sometimes mischievous smiles. He was a wonderful and kind person and a fantastic square dancer.
Though I didn’t know Joe well, I always enjoyed dancing with him. He had such kindness and positive energy, and was a joy to be around. He will always be loved and remembered in the square dance community!
Joe was a great square dancer, I was always happy to see him when we got to dance in his square. I’ll miss him.
Since the first time that I danced with Joe at a New Dancer Hoedown in the late, late 90’s, it was always a pleasure to have him in my square or as my partner. I knew that, whatever happened, Joe would bring a smile to all of us and calm happiness to his fellow dancers.
Joe, have fun dancing with all the other angels.
Harvey
He taught me in 7th and 8th grade. Sorry to hear of his passing.
Barb:
My sympathy to your family. Bless you!
Joe was a mentor and friend back in the late 1970’s when I had opportunity to come to know him at St. Mary’s. We enjoyed going to movies and did lots of laughing at the funny things in life. May he now dine in the kingdom of God.
Debra, I am so sorry to hear about your fathers passing, just wanted to let you know you and your family are in my prayers. Been a long time since Shanley.
I was always happy that Joe and I were friends. I will always cherish our friendship.
Joe will be terribly missed. My condolences to Mrs. Weigel and the entire family.
Aunt Dolly and family – our deepest sympathy to you and your family during this difficult time as you grieve the loss of Joe. Have comfort in knowing that you now have another guardian angel watching over you and your family and that he and Uncle Roy are sharing stories.
We were neighbors in Oakes, living down the street from you, and I am remembering all the childhood games we played. I had not seen Joe since he left Oakes. It makes my heart glad he lived a good life, and he still had his smile after all the years.
I am sorry for your loss of Joe.
With God’s peace,
Mary Hample Bjornstad
We wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy for the family. It has been many, many years since your name has come to mind, but I still remember the silly times in our yard with Joey and Eugene, my brother Tom and some other faces that I remember, but can’t put a name to them. Still have a fun picture I dug out to look at all those fun times. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs to all. Kathy
Rest in peace my dear square dance partner at Trailblazers. I’ll always remember your kindness and always having a smile on your face. It was a joy knowing you!
My sympathy to the Weigel family. I met Joe at a square dance in the LA area and it was a pleasure to be his occasional partner. He was the friendliest and most gentle person I’ve had the privilege to meet. I hoped to see him often but God had other plans for Joe. Some day I will meet him again where we can dance forever. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
We enjoyed many years of square dancing together. I will surely miss you.
I loved dancing in the same square with Joe. He has the most beautiful smile. He is truly missed by us on Wednesday night. Keeping the family in my prayers.
I met Joe when I began teaching at Foshay Learning Center in south Los Angeles, about 2004. We both taught ESL students and he was head of that department. Whenever there was a problem I had with a student, another teacher, or an administrator – Jor always steppef in to help resolve the iisue. He always diffused the issue in a gentle poignant manner. We kept in touch when I left the school 2010. I always turned to him for advice when one arose at school. I could always count on sage advice. It’s still difficult to wrap my mind around his passing; I learned about it via a fluke. My sympathy to his family. He was an angel during his lifetime and surely is one now as well.
He used to be my 6th grade English teacher, he was the only one who helped mto get rid of the bullies issue I had, it happened in 2011. After I got expelled I had never heard of home anymore, until my cousin attended Foshay and her teacher was him, he was very good to my cousin also. Then my cousin told me he had cancer, and I felt very upset and I prayed for him. 2 days later after my birthday, my cousin told me that Mr. Weigel died, I felt a lot upset and I almost wanted to cry. Thanks for everything Mr. Weigel, RIP.