Leonard W. Wieland, 93, of West Unity, OH, went to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, June 30, 2016. He was born December 19, 1922, in Defiance County, near Ney, OH, to the late Walter and Edith (Wiler) Wieland.
He married the love of his life Ilo D. Ross in 1945, and they enjoyed 71 years of marriage. They enjoyed family vacations and wintered several years in Florida. He was a long time member of the Kunkle United Brethren Church, where he taught Sunday school and served on the Board for many years.
A retired Major of the U.S. Air Force, Leonard fought in World War II with the Army Air Corp, a co-pilot of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. He was a 1940 graduate of Fayette High School and worked as a farmer his whole life, living on the family farm for 86 years.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Ilo, two children, Larry (Kathy) Wieland of West Unity, OH, and Diane Repp of Fayette, OH; four grandchildren, Michelle (Dennis) Taylor, Brian (Stacey) Wieland, Shawn (Keith) Roth, and Michael Repp; eight great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Leonard was preceded in death by his sister, Mary K. (Willard) Miller of West Unity, OH, and son-in-law, Robert Repp of Fayette, OH.
Those who knew Leonard found him to be a kind and gentle man who lived by Christian example every day of his life. He loved farming and also, for many years, owned a small airplane, which allowed him to give many neighbors and friends their first ride.
A funeral service for Leonard will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at Eagle Funeral Home in Fayette with Pastor Dan VanArsdalen officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by Fulton County Honor Guard will follow in Pleasant View Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends for a visitation Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.
Memorial contributions in honor of Leonard can be made to Kunkle United Brethren Church. Friends can share memories and words of comfort with the family online at www.eaglefuneralhome.com.