Ida Weiermann Obituary

             What is this mystery that men call death?

             Our mother before us lies; in all save breath

            She seems the same as yesterday.

            Her face so like to life, so calm, bears not

            A trace of that great change which all of us so dread

             I gaze on her and say, She is not dead but sleeps,

             And soon she will arise and take me by the hand as

             She did yesterday

             And she will have some gentle word to say,

             Some kindly deed to do.

             For loving thought was warp and woof

             Of which her life was wrought.

             She is not dead, souls like this forever live,

             In boundless measure of the love they give.

     Ida Weiermann Wheeler was born in Bern Switzerland, 2 September 1879, the daughter of Gottfreid Weiermann and Anna Elizabeth Reber.  She passed away at Bingham Memorial Hospital 6 January 1959 after a serious illness lasting about three weeks. She is survived by her husband David and the following sons and  daughters: Florence, Leon, Roy, Lorin, Edward, Elnora, Dora, Mearl and Max, thirty eight grandchildren and 55 great grand children.  One son, James, preceded her in death.  Her mother was a seamstress and supported her daughter and two sons in this profession.  They were converted to the Latter Day Saints Church and were baptized in 1888.  Two years later they sacrificed all they had to come to America and live in Zion.  Before they left Switzerland, great grandmother fried bread in butter for them to eat.  The Mormon elders had taught them to say 'Hot Water' and they were able to ask for this on the boat.  They poured this over their bread and this was their main food on the trip.  They came Steerage and on the voyage had to changes ships.  During this move their bedding, which they needed very badly, was lost.  When they arrived at Paris, Idaho, Great Grandmother had only $5.00 on which to start a new life.  She was able to get work and thus supported her family.  Grandma Wheeler had very little schooling. She boarded out in homes for two winters and went to school about two months each winter.  This constituted her formal education.

   She married David Wheeler, 4 December 1895, in the Logan Temple.  He was called on a mission to the Southern States just six weeks later and was gone for 30 months.  During this time grandma worked in different homes doing housework.  She some time in Preston.  In those days they did washing on the board, ironing with stove irons and scrubbing.  Much harder work than we do now.  Her wages were $1.50 a week.  She worked in the home of Apostle Cowley at the time of the birth of Matthew W.

      After grandpa returned from his mission, they moved to Indian Valley, Idaho. During their trip they had to stop and grandpa mined gold to get enough money to go to their destination.  While living in Indian Valley her first two children were born.  She nearly gave her life when her first baby was born.  The elders were called in and between them and grandma's great faith, her health was restored.

    In these early years, they moved often and suffered many hardships.  After receiving word of the serious illness of her mother, grandma took her two small children and returned to Logan to care for her mother until death.  Grandpa sold all their belongings and came to Logan to be with her.

     They later moved to Mapleton and lived in a dirt roofed log house.  In 1905 they moved to Moreland and bought the Dave White place where we now live.  When the children went out to play, she put a red bonnet on Florence and white shirts on the two boys so she could check on where they were playing.  One day the dog was making an awful noise so grandma went out to see what was the matter.  The dog was fighting with a coyote and nearly had it killed.  She picked up a wagon spoke and finished the job, then tied her apron on to it and dragged it to the house to be skinned.  They lived in a two room lean to which is still standing on the place.

     When grandpa's brother was called on a mission, they sold out and went back to Mapleton to help on the farm.  One year later they returned to Moreland, with the exception of one year in MacKay and two years in Montana have lived in this vicinity.

     In addition to raising her own nine children, she took her brother's 2 children and raised them for two years.

   Grandma held many positions in the church.    She was a counselor in the M.I.A. and Primary besides being a teacher in several organizations.  She was also a visiting teacher in the Relief society for several years.

    For the past 25 years, her health has been poor and she had been unable to be active in the church or ward.

     Grandma was a quiet, unassuming, hard working woman, going about her duties with determination.  She was a spotless house keeper and very fussy about her washing and ironing.  She was uncomplaining in her illness and greatly appreciated any small service or word of encouragement given her.  In spite of her poor health, she was never idle.  Her hands were always busy knitting and crocheting beautiful articles.  Some of these she sold but many of the homes of her children and grandchildren are graced with the beautiful work she did.  For every new great grandchild that came into the world she always crochet white bibs.

    Grandma had and exercised a lot of faith and called upon the Lord for help many times while raising her family and after they were grown.  I think this expressed how she felt;

         I love the Lord, because he hath heard

          My voice and my supplications.

          Because He hath inclined His ear unto me

          Therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.

      

          I was brought low, and He helped me

          Return unto thy rest, O my soul

          For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee

          For Thou hast delivered my soul from death

           Mine eyes from tears,

          And my feet from falling

          I will take the cup of salvation

          And call upon the name of the Lord

      

          Now in the presence of all His people

          In the courts of the Lord's house

          In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem

          Praise ye the Lord!

   In the passed few years modern conveniences given to her by her children have helped make her life more enjoyable.  She expressed her appreciation for these things many times.        

    Grandma and grandpa were a very happy and devoted couple.  They lived together in their own home until the time of grandma's passing. I am thankful that my children were privileged to know grandma and visit with her on different occasions.  She will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.  In closing I would like to read this tribute to her:

             A virtuous woman who can find?

              For her price is far above rubies

             The heart of her husband trusteth in her

             And he shall have no lack of gain

             She soweth him good and not evil

             All the days of her life,

             She seeketh wood and flax

             And worketh willingly with her hands

             She is like the merchant ships

             She bringeth her food from afar

             She riseth also while it is yet night

             And giveth meat to her household

             And their tasks to her maidens

             She considereth a field, and buyeth it

             With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

             She girdeth her loins with strength

             And maketh strong her arms

             She preceiveth that her merchandise is profitable

             Her lamp goeth not out by night

             She layeth her hands to the distaff

            And her hands hold the spindle

            She spreadeth out her hand to the poor

            Yea, she reacheth out her hand to the needy

             She is not afraid of the snow for her household;

            For all her household are clothed with scarlet

            Strength and dignity are her clothing

            And she laugheth at the time to come

            She openeth her mouth with wisdom

            And the law of kindness is on her tongue

            She looketh well to the ways of her household

            And eateth not the bread of idleness

             Her children rise up, and call her blessed

             Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying

             'Many daughters have done virtuously,

              But thou excellest them all.' 


    [This was written by Lois Christiansen Olsen.]