- Obituary Notice: Arthur J. Weiss Sr. (Provided photo)
Arthur J. Weiss Sr., 102, of Clearfield passed away Friday, May 13, 2011 at the Clearfield Hospital. Born Jan. 12, 1909 in Stockertown, he was the son of Steward W. and Ellen (Steigerwalt) Weiss.
He graduated from Nazareth High School in 1927, Perkioman Prep School in 1928 and Albright College in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was president of the student body his senior year of college and president of his class as a junior.
In 1932, Mr. Weiss began teaching biology and algebra for the Clearfield Area School District. He also worked part-time as a chemist with DvMunt Airplane and Marine for 20 years
He served as head coach for junior high football for three years during World War II. He coached basketball for two years before establishing the Clearfield High School wrestling program in 1935. He served as head wrestling coach for 25 years until retiring in 1959.
He was a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club since the late 1940’s, a former member of the Clearfield Choral Society and a member of the Wrestling Coaches Association. For 17 years, he served as chief scorer and matchmaker for the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Organization Association (EIWOA) and was a member of the board. He was listed as one of the winningest wrestling coaches in the National High School Hall of Fame. In 1970, he became one of the first two inductees into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He’d served as secretary for Sunday school and evangelical church of Trinity United Methodist Church, Nazareth and was also a member of the Clearfield Presbyterian Church for more than 59 years. In addition to teaching Sunday school for numerous years, he served as a past superintendent of the Presbyterian Church Grade School, as a deacon and elder, as chairman of the organ committee, as advisor to the youth fellowship and as advisor for Mountaintop Presbyterian Churches.
Mr. Weiss is survived by two granddaughters, Lisa Weiss and Kathleen Nelson of Maryland; two great-grandchildren, Glenn Nelson and Nicole Nelson; two brothers, Victor Weiss of Athens and John Weiss of Bethlehem.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Irene M. (Reimer) Weiss, whom he married Dec. 28, 1936 and whom passed away Sept. 19, 2005; a son, Arthur J. Weiss Jr., whom passed away April 11, 2011; three brothers, George, Samuel and Robert Weiss; and a sister, Mary Weiss.
A memorial service for Mr. Weiss will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Clearfield Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert Mellgard and Mr. Richard Barkley co-officiating. Interment will be in Hecktown Hope Cemetery, Nazareth. A reception and receiving of friends will follow the service in Westminister Hall.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Clearfield Presbyterian Church, 119 N. Second St., Clearfield, Pa 16830, or to the Arthur J. Weiss Sr. Scholarship Fund, c/o Peggy Durant, 216 S. Front St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
The Bennett and Houser Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield are in charge of the arrangements. To send an online tribute, go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.