Doris Wieber

When reflecting on the life of Doris Wieber, words such as devoted, gentle, and loving continually recur throughout her entire life’s journey. She was a woman who was a blessing in the lives of those around her and lived to serve her beloved husband and son. Doris had a special place in her heart for animals and could find the beauty in everything, even when the road before her was not an easy one. Through the life she lived each day she created a lifetime of precious moments that are woven together to create a beautiful tapestry of memories for those she leaves behind.

The year 1929 is often remembered as the year of the stock market crash that sent our nation and much of the world spiraling into the darkness of the Great Depression. The years prior to that fateful day had been predominantly prosperous for many Americans filled with countless changes within the cultural fabric of our nation. Babe Ruth was on top of the world of sports while new commercial radio stations took to the airwaves like never before. It was during that same year just as the winds of autumn were beginning to settle in that a young family from Elsie, Michigan, rejoiced in the birth of their healthy baby girl on September 17th. Doris Jean was the second of five children born to her parents, Avelyn and Mary (Mendenhall) Page. She was raised on a farm on the Maple River alongside her four brothers, Charles, Ivan, Ray, and Elden.

In many ways Doris experienced a childhood that was fairly typical for the youth of her generation. Her father grew produce that he took to sell at the nearby market. It was as a young girl that Doris developed a love for flowers and soaked up every bit of knowledge about them that she could. She also began a lifelong love for animals as a young girl.

New and exciting changes were in store for Doris when she met the young man with whom she would share a lifetime of love. His name was Herbert Wieber, and they met at a local dance. The couple began dating a short time later and soon found themselves deeply in love. Herb and Doris became husband and wife on December 1, 1962, in St. Johns. For a time Herb owned a salvage business in Carson City, which allowed Doris to focus her attention at home. Together the couple was blessed with the birth of their son, Charles. From the moment she became a mother Doris completely immersed herself in the role. It was easy to see that she deeply loved her son. The family later moved to St. Johns when Doris’s husband took a job with the state.

Although there was nothing that made Doris happier than her family, her life was enriched in other ways as well. With a deep love for animals, later in life Doris enjoyed the companionship of her two stray cats, Dusty and Rusty. She also enjoyed her flowers and her garden in town. When having some down time Doris loved country music and watching westerns of all kinds. She worked hard to complete her education and was so proud to earn her GED at the same time as Charlie graduated from high school. Everything that came out of Doris’s kitchen was fantastic, but her rhubarb pie was out of this world.

Later in life Doris continued to embrace the days she was given. A true caretaker at heart, she tenderly cared for her beloved husband after he suffered a stroke. When she needed more care during her sunset years she moved into assisted living at Prestige Pines where she was well taken care of and enjoyed entertaining the nurses and doctors with her stories.

Through the life she lived each day, Doris Wieber taught us what it truly means to selflessly love those around us. She was a woman who was content in all things and never let the trying times steal her joy for living. As her friends and family can attest, Doris could always be counted on to tell things as she saw them in her own special way. She will be deeply missed and warmly remembered.

Doris Jean Wieber died on March 27, 2012 in DeWitt, Michigan. Doris’s family includes her son, Charles (Lisa) Wieber of St. Johns; brothers, Charles (Alma) King of Lansing, Ivan (Geneva) Page of Grand Ledge, Ray (Sonia) Page of Mayfield, KY and Elden (Mary) Page of AZ. Doris was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Herb, on April 30, 2004. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. Her family will receive friends from 9 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the mass at the Osgood Funeral Home is St. Johns. Sympathies may be expressed with a donation in her name to the Tri-County Office on Aging-Meals on Wheels Program or the St. Joseph Educational Trust Fund. Her family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or sign the online guestbook.