1936
Donald
2014
Donald John Wees
May 17, 1936 — March 13, 2014
Donald J. Wees, age 77, of Rochester died Thursday, March 13, 2014, at his home.
Donald John Wees was born May 17, 1936 in Omaha, NE to Joseph and Julia (Mruz) Wees. He was raised in Omaha and attended St. Francis School and Creighton Prep School before attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he earned a degree in Architecture with an AIA Gold Medal award. Don moved to Rochester where he was employed at the Weichselbaum & Pieper architectural firm. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961 and was trained as a Criminal Investigator at Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA. Don served in Korea until his discharge in 1963. On March 24, 1962, he married Judith Harms at St. John's Church in Rochester. After his discharge the couple made their home in Rochester, where he worked for Pieper & Richmond Architects. Don began working for the City of Rochester in 1968 and retired in 2001 as the Director of Building Safety. He was also an instructor for construction code classes at the University Center in Rochester.
Don was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the International Conference of Building Officials and the Church of St. John the Evangelist. He was a volunteer for the Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living and the Hiawatha Valley Chapter of the National Paraplegic Foundation, as well as a member of the State Building Advisory Board. Don worked for many years to make the community of Rochester a safer place for its residents. He enjoyed working on many projects and remodeling, both at his home and for others. He also enjoyed photography, classical music, jazz and travel with his family.
Survivors include his wife Judy; two sons, Christopher (Julie) of Eden Prairie and Patrick (Trina) of Minnetonka; his grandchildren Jordon, Alex, Matthew, Joey and Gia Anne; two sisters, Marlena Morgan of Windham, ME and Margaret (Rick) Williams of Bellevue, NE; two brothers, Jim (Pat) of Burr Ridge, IL and Ken (Patti) of Reston, VA; and his close aunt, Sister Carolyn Mruz, OSF of St. Louis, MO. Don was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Jim Morgan.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Church of St. John the Evangelist with Rev. Msgr. Gerald A. Mahon officiating. Friends may gather from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Mahn Family Funeral Home Rochester Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Seasons Hospice of Rochester (seasonshospice.org/donations). Friends may share a memory at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Rochester, MN
Donald John Wees was born May 17, 1936 in Omaha, NE to Joseph and Julia (Mruz) Wees. He was raised in Omaha and attended St. Francis School and Creighton Prep School before attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he earned a degree in Architecture with an AIA Gold Medal award. Don moved to Rochester where he was employed at the Weichselbaum & Pieper architectural firm. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961 and was trained as a Criminal Investigator at Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA. Don served in Korea until his discharge in 1963. On March 24, 1962, he married Judith Harms at St. John's Church in Rochester. After his discharge the couple made their home in Rochester, where he worked for Pieper & Richmond Architects. Don began working for the City of Rochester in 1968 and retired in 2001 as the Director of Building Safety. He was also an instructor for construction code classes at the University Center in Rochester.
Don was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the International Conference of Building Officials and the Church of St. John the Evangelist. He was a volunteer for the Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living and the Hiawatha Valley Chapter of the National Paraplegic Foundation, as well as a member of the State Building Advisory Board. Don worked for many years to make the community of Rochester a safer place for its residents. He enjoyed working on many projects and remodeling, both at his home and for others. He also enjoyed photography, classical music, jazz and travel with his family.
Survivors include his wife Judy; two sons, Christopher (Julie) of Eden Prairie and Patrick (Trina) of Minnetonka; his grandchildren Jordon, Alex, Matthew, Joey and Gia Anne; two sisters, Marlena Morgan of Windham, ME and Margaret (Rick) Williams of Bellevue, NE; two brothers, Jim (Pat) of Burr Ridge, IL and Ken (Patti) of Reston, VA; and his close aunt, Sister Carolyn Mruz, OSF of St. Louis, MO. Don was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Jim Morgan.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Church of St. John the Evangelist with Rev. Msgr. Gerald A. Mahon officiating. Friends may gather from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Mahn Family Funeral Home Rochester Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Seasons Hospice of Rochester (seasonshospice.org/donations). Friends may share a memory at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Service
MAR 24. 10:00 AM (CDT)
Church of Saint John the EvangelistRochester, MN
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