Weldon Diener
April 07, 1949 - June 12, 2020
Weldon Wayne Diener, 71, of Bradenton,
Florida, went to his Heavenly home on June 12, 2020.
He was born to Willard A. and Erma Mae
(Miller) Diener in Hutchinson, Kansas, on April 7, 1949. He
graduated from Haven High School, Hesston College, and received a
Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Missouri University.
Weldon served his country by completing his IW service in Columbia,
Missouri.
Weldon married Judy (Fast) Diener on
August 1, 1969. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last
year with family and friends.
Weldon spent the majority of his
working years as a 3rd generation dairy farmer in rural Yoder,
Kansas. He served on the board of Yoder Township, and was an elder
at Faith Mennonite Church. He loved singing bass in the Kansas
Mennonite Men’s Chorus for many years.
After he sold the dairy, Weldon raised
beef for Yoder Meats and also drove roll-off truck for Stutzman
Refuse Disposal. In 2013, Weldon and Judy relocated to Florida to be
near the grandkids. He then enjoyed driving bus for Pioneer Trails
and All Around Charters. The past three years, Weldon sought out
various volunteer opportunities, with over 500 hours served at
Manatee Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Judy,
daughters Monica Miller and Angela Stephens, son-in-law Daniel
Stephens, and grandchildren Samuel Jason and Summer Rene Stephens,
all of Sarasota, Florida. He is also survived by three brothers and
a sister: Ron Diener and wife, Marilee, Terry Diener and wife, Julie,
all of Goshen, Indiana; Marvin Diener and wife, Lessie, of Olathe
Kansas, and Marlene Boese and husband Gary, of Hesston, Kansas. He
had 12 nieces and nephews, and 10 great nieces and nephews.
Weldon was preceded in death by his
parents, son-in-law Jason Miller, and great-niece Ella Mae Derstine.
A visitation will be open to the
community to attend on Saturday, June 20 from 3 to 6 PM at Broadway
Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas. Social distancing will be
practiced.
A private family burial will be held at
Eastlawn Cemetery in Zimmerdale, Kansas on Sunday, June 21, and a
celebration of life will take place at Hesston Mennonite Church.
These services are for immediate family, and by invitation only. The
celebration will be livestreamed, and all are welcome and encouraged
to join in and watch at 2 PM CST by visiting
https://hesstonmc.org/dienermemorial/. There will be a remembrance
video streamed at the end of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be
sent to the Jason Miller Memorial Fund at Hesston College, in
Hesston, Kansas.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home, Newton, Ks.