Francis A. Wiese

Services for Francis A. Wiese, 85, of Gainesville are set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Nicholas Fuhrmann, O.S.B., officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lindsay under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville.

Mr. Wiese died April 19, 2008, at Denton Presbyterian Hospital.

He was born Dec. 20, 1922, in Lindsay to Frank and Clara Schad Wiese. On Aug. 12, 1946, he married Clara Mae Mosman Wiese in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1940. In World War II, he was a member of the Army Air Corps, assigned to the 58th Bomb Wing in the 20th Air Force. He was a top gunner on a B-29 Bomber in the CBI theater, flying 33 combat missions over Japan. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, four air medals, and five Presidential Citations.

In 1947, he went to watch and jewelry repair school in Wichita Falls, Texas, and upon graduation, opened Wiese Jewelry in Muenster, Texas. In 1959, he joined Harry Kinne at Kinne’s Jewelers in Gainesville, Texas, and became the owner in 1974. He enjoyed going to the jewelry store daily, long after retirement. His other hobbies included crappie fishing, backpacking in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, photography and attending the reunions of the 58th Bomb Wing.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Clara; daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Paul Hoedebeck of Gainesville, Janet and Randy Dansby of Plano, and Gina and Gary Dill of Gainesville; sons and daughters-in-law, Harold and Elizabeth Wiese of Quitman, Don and Kim Wiese of Gainesville and Jack and Lana Wiese of Gainesville; 17 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and brothers and sister-in-law, Leonard Wiese of Gainesville and Bobby and Cathy Wiese of Fort Worth; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Clara Wiese; brothers, Paul Wiese; sister-in-law, June Wiese; one infant brother; and one infant grandson.

Pallbearers are Michael Wiese, Scott Wiese, Stephen Wiese, Kyle Dansby, Charlie Dansby, Clark Dansby, Jacob Dill and Tony Wiese.

Honorary pallbearers are Jeff Hoedebeck, Brian Wiese, David Wiese, and Leonard Wiese.

Rosary and visitation at St. Mary’s Church is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School.