June Weise, 98, of Carlinville, died on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at Heritage Health in Carlinville, a week after celebrating her birthday with her daughter Patrice Fraser and lifelong friends Mary Ann Dunn, Monica (Dunn) Sottoriva, and Susan Dunn, all of whom were at her side during her last days.
Funeral mass was celebrated on Wednesday, June 14, starting 11 a.m. at Ss. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church. Heinz Funeral Home of Carlinville assisted the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Weise was born on June 1, 1925, in Verona Township, Grundy County, to Elmer and Susie (Elsperman) Redman.
She married Joseph L. Weise on Nov. 22, 1958, and they lived their entire lives in Carlinville. He preceded her in death in June 1990.
Mrs. Weise grew up in Girard and graduated from high school in 1943. She attended St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield through her acceptance into the United States Cadet Nurses Program and graduated in 1946. She attended classes at Blackburn College in Carlinville and later graduated from the College of St. Francis in Joliet in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree. Her career in nursing and health care spanned over four decades, and included work at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Carlinville Area Hospital, the TB Sanitorium Board in Macoupin County and the Macoupin County Health Department. Mrs. Weise was the health department’s first administrator when it was created in 1983, and remained in that position until she retired in 1990.
Mrs. Weise was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and her favorite activities involved spending time with family and friends. As a young woman, she enjoyed reading, listening to music, dancing, golf and bowling. As she grew older, she also enjoyed knitting, embroidery, macrame, baking, sketching, tole painting, and bingo. Mrs. Weise traveled a bit before and after her retirement, taking trips to Morocco and Hawaii with her husband and to Germany with her lifelong friend Martha (Foulk) Dunn. She also traveled to various locations in the United States with her daughter Patrice, to Las Vegas with dear friend Margaret (Schoenherr) Bloomfield, to the Alton Belle with lifelong friend Doris (Miller)Schmidt and Debbie Zilm, as well as the countless evenings at local bingo halls with Margaret, Sue (Levi) Coonrod, and Cy and Betty Karrick. She also enjoyed attending concerts and performances at the Fox Theatre In St. Louis, MO. Mrs. Weise fully embraced her role of grandmother. As her grandson grew they became best buddies, and she loved to keep him overnight, take him to Dairy Queen for treats and accompany the family for his sports and other school activities.
Mrs. Weise is survived by her children, Patrice of Carlinville, Dan Weise and Suzanne Hoots; grandson, Joe Fraser of Carlinville; sister, Elaine Randle of Hillsboro; brother, Gene (wife Paula) Redman of Highland; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and the daughters and sons of lifelong friends who assisted in managing her care for the last several years.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Doris Sturgeon and Anna May Hemken; brother, Bill Redman; and her son-in-law, Bill Fraser.
Memorials may be directed to HSHS St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing. Condolences may be left online at www.heinzfuneralhome.com.
