Erich Weland

Erich Weland of Denver passed on Dec. 17, 2013 at his home. He was 74. There will be a reception in his memory at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club, 800 Eldorado Blvd. in Broomfield, from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22. A private family burial with United States Marine Corps military honors will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Though officially retired, you'd never know it. Erich took his final truck drive to Grand Island, Neb. on Dec. 15 and played a round of golf on the morning of Dec. 17. He was always busy creating something, whether it was building a new porch on his house or working in his flower garden. He also loved lighthouses. His personal philosophy might be summed up in a quote he had on his refrigerator: Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain. He never stopped dancing. He was a great father and a devoted grandfather who enjoyed going to his grandkids' soccer, hockey and football games or cheerleading competitions. Erich was born March 27, 1939 to Paul J. Weland and Berta Meta Feder Weland in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Northfield-Macedonia High School, where he was a dedicated athlete, playing quarterback and linebacker for the football team, center for the basketball team and catcher for the baseball team from his freshman through senior years, never missing a game. He attended college at Metro State University in Denver, Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and earned a graduate degree in the School of Hard Knocks. He served as an aerial navigator in the Marine Corps from 1958 to 1961. Erich had a long and successful career in the trucking industry. He was president of the warehouse and truckers union at Shell Oil in Cleveland and spent six years as owner and operator of small trucking fleets in Macedonia, Ohio and Spencer, Iowa. Once he moved to Colorado he worked for four years as a terminal manager for Riss International Trucking in Denver, eight years as a manager for Timpte Trailers in Commerce City, 17 years as an owner-operator of an independent trucking company in Denver, and as an operations manager for LC Trucking in Denver. His passion for sports continued throughout his life, and he was an avid golfer who played with the men's league at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club. He is survived by three sons, Erich A. Weland of Parker, Colo., Todd P. Weland of Denver and Timothy F. Weland of Parker; a daughter, Renae M. Spargo of Arvada; and six grandchildren, Timmy, Kirsten, Dustin, Bailey, Mathew and Tyler. He also is survived by his former wife and the mother of his children, Ruth-Anne Smith. He was preceded in death by a son, Troy S. Weland, who was born and passed on Dec. 6, 1972.