William Robert (Bill) Weidlich was born in Bound Brook, N.J., October 22, 1928. As a boy, he liked nothing better than hunting, trapping and working on old cars. After graduating from high school, he served in the Army of Occupation in Japan. Returning after his service, he enrolled at Duke University. There he met his wife-to-be, Pam. They both graduated in 1952 and were married September 28, 1952.

His first job was with the research dept. of Liggett and Meyers Tobacco Co. Bill’s degree was in Chemistry, but the age of television had come. After putting together a television set from a Heath Kit, he discovered he much preferred electronics to chemistry. He took more classes and finished as an electronic engineer.

He met Christ as his Savior when he was 30 years old. He became the spiritual leader of his family seeing all his six children come to Christ. Though he loved his job in research, he found he could not explain to his children why he was making cancer-causing cigarettes.

The family moved to St. Joseph, MI where Bill worked for Heath Co. in instrumentation. Several years later, he joined the Chemistry Dept. at the University of Nebraska. Later, he worked at Grumman for NASA at Vandenberg Air Force Base. He was in Cape Canaveral when the Challenger exploded. The planned west coast launch of the Discovery module was canceled.

The nest was empty so Bill and Pam did something they had longed to do, serve the Lord in missions. They joined Wycliffe Bible Translators, Bill serving in the computer program and Pam as a nurse.

Retiring in 2000 Bill and Pam moved to God’s waiting room, Willamette View. They continued to volunteer at Wycliffe’s North West Regional Office until it closed.

Bill was active at WV in bowling, bridge, repairing equipment in the Mart and working on the new model railroad. Bill and Pam started Bible studies and showed Christian films each month. Due to memory problems, he moved to Glacier Lily where he was known as a kind and caring gentleman. He went to be with the Lord January 24, 2020 with Pam holding his hand, along with Tami and Cathy, singing “Make Me a Blessing.”

Bill is survived by his sister, Lois Baker of New Jersey, his wife of 67 years, Pam Weidlich and their children, Bob (and Margie) Weidlich of Herndon, VA, Dave Weidlich of Petaluma, CA, Tami (and Bill) Hendricks of Milwaukie, OR, Rick Weidlich of Portland, OR, Tim Weidlich of Helena, MT and Cathy Perry of Milwaukie, OR, fourteen beloved grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Click below to see pictures.

My Memories of Dad

Dad was a blessing to many. He loved the hymn, Make Me a Blessing and that was his life-long prayer.

One of my high school friends said this about Dad:

“Your dad had a heart for the lost and forgotten. Everyone counted, no one was of less value to him. He resonated the love and tenderness of Christ to everyone who met him. He loved people! Great man because he walked humbly with his God.”

Clark Brumm, Lincoln Nebraska.

Education

Dad valued education, not just what you got in school. He earned a BS in Chemistry from Duke University, but learned that he was more interested in electronics. He took night classes and learned on the job.

Dad read constantly. He always had a book or magazine with him. He read to us kids nightly – the Bible and classics like Heidi, Lad, a Dog, a history book, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Tortured for Christ and many more.

He started each morning with Bible reading and prayer. He was a mystic. He believed God gave him red lights and green lights. For example, before I could say yes to my first job at Little King, I had to wait a few days until he got the green light from God.

Responsibility, Independence, Self-sufficient

When I totaled the family car (hitting a police car), Dad was patient. But, he was insistent that I pay him $500 for the car. It led to my first job at Little King, a new deli sandwich shop in Lincoln, NE. At $1.95 per hour, it took a while, but that job covered the car and a lot more.

He dreamed of inventing something, having his kids produce it in the basement of the Michigan house and making some money. He constructed a prototype instrument that you could put in your mouth and it would take your temperature, give or take a few degrees. The problem was he insisted on using army surplus materials. He could have used a savvy business partner to develop the style of the product and do the marketing – a Steve Jobs to his Steve Woz. He never turned a profit. But, he did teach us to work. WilPamCo, the name he gave his basement business, was the butt of many family jokes, but it probably stirred some entrepreneurial fires in me that paid off in my pastoral vocation and now in my current business. Dad taught me to be innovative, take risks and keep going after you’ve failed. Don’t give up. Once he sent me to the basement to find a pair of pliers. I poked around the mess for a few minutes and returned without the pliers. I told him, “I can’t find the pliers.” He said, “Don’t say you can’t find the pliers; say you didn’t find the pliers.”

Faith

It was an L&M work friend who invited him to a revival at First Baptist Church – Durham, NC. Dad heard the evangelist, Chester Sworr, and gave his life to Christ. It changed his life. Typical of a first-generation Christian, he became zealous about making sure we were raised in a Christian home and he out-Christianed every other Christian home I had seen. Christian radio was on at all times in the home and in the car. Nightly family devotions were at times unbearable, but well-intended.

Family

Because of Dad and Mom, we kids are blessed to have each other. Six of us and we’re still speaking to each other. That’s an incredible blessing.

He gave us many laughs and he didn’t mind being the butt of our jokes. He passed on his self-deprecating humor.

Once, Dad met the renowned author and TV Evangelist, Robert Schuller at the Crystal Cathedral. He stood in line to meet Dr. Schuller. What would you say? What would you ask? Dad? “Where is a McDonald’s?”

What I gained from him:

Self-reliance, independence. He taught us to ski. Our best Christmas was when we all received skis and boots. We started skiing that day at Kiwanis Park in St. Joseph, MI.

Dad and Mom passed on faith in God. Dad taught us to take a critical approach to our faith and life. Ask questions. Seek answers.  

My discipline for saving money, avoiding debt and practicing generosity are due to Dad. He taught me to avoid impulsive decisions. Take time to reflect, consider and pray.

He learned. He started to say, “I love you,” and “I’m proud of you,” when I was maybe in my 30s (his 60s). James Dobson helped him. He tried to hug in a Dad-hug sort of way (head into chest).

I can’t shake off his cheapness. Dad never bought a car brand-new. He only wore clothes from the thrift store. Price mattered more than style or fit. He loved DAV store in Lincoln. Rummage sales. He prided himself in making car repairs with only what he had on hand. To his cheapness, he added resourcefulness. He once “repaired” a muffler with a soda can and coat hanger wire. There’s the classic story of him driving the Mazda wagon (which I later bought) with one arm out the window, to keep him from falling through the rusted out floor. He loved buffets and made sure he always got his money’s worth.

He was an early adopter of computer technology. He and I each bought a Timex Sinclair personal computer and later an Osborne II. I still have mine.

Dad ended well. Sure, it was humbling for him. At times, frustrating. But he managed his slow demise with grace and gratitude for those caring for him. Most of all his wife of 67 years, who cared for him in their home as long as she could and then some. She was there at the end as were my sisters, Tami and Cathy. Tami’s husband, Bill had spent the night with Dad. Dad was surrounded by love when he slipped into eternity. Family meant more to him than anything. There’s no better way to go.

Mercy Now – a nice prayer that fits here…

Mom remembers…

Her husband as honorable, caring, persistent, spontaneous, loyal.

He wanted to marry an outdoorsy type of woman. He had to check me out as an outdoors women. Taking me hunting with a loaded shotgun he yelled, “look out!” I though he said “look up” and fell in a deep hole. He pulled me out, unloaded the shotgun, and asked me to wear his pin. When I declined, he stomped off over a tiny drainpipe with me trying to balance and follow.

The original Recycler, he never bought a new part if he could make an old one work, (washing machine motor from the dump for a pool filter). He never bought a new car.

He loved cocker spaniels. He tried taking Skipper duck hunting and brought him back in the trunk of the car after Skipper tried to retrieve a skunk.

I loved your Dad. I married him because he was so persistent – always there as I told him about other boy friends! He loved me!

I knew Dad loved me and put up with a lot. He was faithful. Always there. And more loving and dependent on me as we aged.

Dad wrote this, in the event of his death, thirty-eight years ago: