I was dozing in the recliner on Sunday afternoon, half asleep and watching River Monsters on Animal Planet.  In this particular episode (S2:E1), he was on the Congo River in Africa fishing for the Goliath Tigerfish, a fish so scary it’s been known to eat crocodiles.  He can keep his job, I do not want it.

Suddenly, this guy pops onscreen…he’s a local fisherman and river guide who lives in Congo. He only showed up for a few seconds but even in my sleepy state, I recognized what was on his shirt!  That’s my name!  I have that shirt in my closet!  I was suddenly fully awake, scrambling for the remote so I could get this screenshot.

Our friend is modeling an authentic Weidenbach Dynamic Skating School jersey.  The WDSS was run by Andy Weidenbach for over 25 years.  Andy is the Varsity Hockey Coach at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills MI, one of the most successful and respected high school hockey programs in the region. Andy is also a Special Assistant Coach with the Detroit Red Wings.

I always wonder about the random American T-shirts that show up around the world, and how they got there.  It’s nice to see that donations are doing some good. We’re all just members of the worldwide United Republic of Weidenbach.

Mike Weidenbach, the Curator of the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Honolulu, recently sent me this photo of CWO Edward Joseph Weidenbach, along with a note:

“…the feature on Edward Joseph Weidenbach who was killed in Vietnam in May ’67. I found this photo of him. Thought you might like to see it. He looks an awful lot like my dad Marion Joseph Weidenbach (of Birmingham) during his WWII service.”

Handsome fella.  Thanks from all of us to him and his family for his service and sacrifice.

(Thanks, Mike!)

More Info from TogetherWeServed.com:
CWO Weidenbach served in WWII, enlisting on 30 November 1942 in the Army Air Corps out of Fort McClellan, Alabama.

CWO 2 Weidenbach was killed in the crash of an AH-47A (# 64-13145) operating out of LZ Uplift, Bien Dien Province. The aircraft was involved in combat operations at the time of its mechanical failure, killing all passengers and crew aboard.

He served with HHC, 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division in RVN. He began his tour on 24 February 1967. CWO2 Weidenbach left a wife and five children in Nampa, Idaho.

Update to the Update, 4/13/12:
According to Kimberly Weidenbach, “ You have my borther-in-law Zach Weidenbach posted, and may be interested to know that he is the direct grandson of Edward Joseph Weidenbach…  Interesting connection ”

I find it extremely heartening that somebody actually reads this stuff.

Tony Weidenbach & Associates is located at 51 Campbell Street, Hobart, Tasmania. You can reach them by phone at (03) 6234 4596

This is 27-year-old Lisa Weidenbach (now Lisa Rainsberger) being interviewed after winning the 1988 Chicago Marathon (at that point known as the “Old Style Marathon”) with a time of 2:29:16.

Here’s a video of her finish (at 1:59):

Laney English Instructor Chris Weidenbach explains how moving your money to a local credit union may improve our money woes collectively. Weidenbach is part of the “No Cuts Laney” organization and he and his colleagues support the national idea of making the banking switch in order to fight corporate greed, promote local investment and ultimately improve the economical landscape.

Chris has been in Laney’s English Department for over a decade, teaching courses on Shakespeare, creative writing, composition, and reading.  He got a 3.5 rating on Rate My Professors where at least one of his students rates him as “hott.”

This portrait of George Washington was painted by Augustus Weidenbach (AKA Karl Augustus Weidenbach, part of the “Painter Weidenbach” family) in 1876.  At the time, he was probably living in Baltimore Maryland, where he was a professor and artist.

The painting is a reproduction of an original portrait by Gilbert Stuart, and is signed “A. Weidenbach” in the lower left corner.  It is archived in the Library of Congress, where you can obtain a print of the painting, and even see the original!

(We visited Washington DC recently…I wish I had known about this!)

Here’s the Mysterious part…
American art history references describe him as Augustus Weidenbach (1853-1869) or C. Augustus Weidenbach (fl.1853-1869), suggesting that his American paintings date from 1853 to 1869…but this painting was done in 1876…seven years AFTER his (alleged) death!

Even more mysterious…he usually painted landscapes.

According to the German Beer Institute, it is pronounced ”veye-tssen-bock” (NOT “wisen-bock”!)

“A Weizenbock is the strong version of an unfiltered Weissbier or Hefeweizen. It is usually made with 60 to 70% wheat malt (German law requires that a Weizenbier, regardless of strength, be made from at least 50% wheat). The other 30 to 40% tend to be so-called Pils, Vienna or Munich malts. These are pale to amber, and sometimes slightly caramelized barley malts that give the beer a full-bodied mouthfeel, a rich and satisfying malty finish, and—depending on the barley malt’s color—a more or less opaque appearance. While regular Bockbiers are lagers, Weizenbocks are all ales. They are fermented with a special yeast that gives the brew a slightly spicy, clove-like flavor.”

Weidenbach, Weizenbock…close enough.  Prost!

In 2008, David Weidenbach, Director of Public Services in Southgate, WI needed to replace the tattered awning over the walkway leading into the Southgate Executive Golf Course clubhouse.  Instead of just putting up another limited-lifespan canvas awning, he put together a project with the Southgate Downtown Development Authority to install an awning made up of solar panels that serve the dual purpose of providing shelter and electricity.

Floodlights were removed, and replaced with LED units.  Old fixtures were replaced and high-efficiency bulbs were installed.  The electricity generated by the new panels goes a long way toward providing the lighting used by the facility, which is primarily used during the day.

The solar project cost $28,000, but Weidenbach estimates that it will pay for itself in energy savings in 5 to 6 years.  With a life expectancy of 10-15 years, the panels will more than pay for themselves in the long run.

(That’s not actually David in the pic, but it is the actual awning.)

Link: Full Article from the News-Herald

Heinrich Weidenbach, a Leutnant d.R. in the 2./Artillerie-Regiment 26, was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold medal on September 25, 1942. This medal was awarded for bravery and outstanding achievements in combat for those who had already earned the infamous Iron Cross 1st Class medal (Eisernes Kreuz 1 Klasse.)

Links:

• Heinrich’s listing on ww2awards.com
• Details about the German Cross in Gold medal

Here’s a couple of lovely little interviews with Ron and Lita Weidenbach who have been running Hawaii’s largest Tilapia farm, The Hawaii Fish Company (without electricity!) on the north shore of Oahu.  They raise their Tilapia, along with Chinese Catfish, and Striped Snakeheads for sale in local restaurants and markets, They work with students from local schools to promote the future of Hawaiian Aquaculture.