Dwight L. Weeks

Dwight L. Weeks, 93, of Denver, passed away January 14, 2015.

Dwight was born in Bolton North Carolina on November 29, 1921, the youngest of 3 children. His mother Retty wanted him to be named after Dwight Moody an American evangelist who died in 1899.

His father, Jessie Tilton Weeks, was superintendent of Sunday school at the Methodist Church. Jessie passed away at the age of 40 in 1923, having contracted lumbar pneumonia while helping a neighbor during a flu epidemic. After this tragedy, Retty moved to her father's home with the children. Thirteeen months later, she married George Arkebauer, a widower who had 3 sons.

Soon the family moved back to Nokomis, Illinois where they built a home on the farm where George had been raised. Life on the farm was structured, with 4 dairy cows, crop raising and hard work. Dwight accepted Jesus as his Savior at a young age, and the family began attending a small Christian fellowship in Witt, Illinois.

After Graduating from Nokomis High School, Dwight took training in sheet metal fabrication, but he worked only 4 weeks in Grand Rapids, Michigan before being drafted into the US Army. He shipped overseas for service in WWII as part of 503rd Engineering Battalion. During his 26 months in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, he worked as a mechanic and electrician. His unit deployed Bailey portable truss bridges on the front lines. He rarely spoke of his experiences during the war, but he once shared that he had been so close to the "Battle of the Bulge" that he could "hear the bombs and the planes flying over head."

While Dwight was serving overseas in January 1945, his parents were killed in a train accident at the railroad crossing as they drove home from the market in Nokomis, Illinois.

Several weeks after discharge, Dwight met 16 year old Joan Huff at a Bible conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. He married Joan two years later in 1948 at her home in Denver. Joan was 20 years old when Kathy was born in December of 1949. Bruce came 15 months later, and Danny was only 25 months behind his big brother.

Shortly before Danny's birth, Dwight and Joan moved into the home in which she was raised, purchasing it from her parents, Lawrence and Agnes Huff. This home on Pearl Street has continued as the center of activity for the Dwight Weeks family until the present time.

Working mostly as a mechanic, usually 9 to 10 hours a day and 5 ½ days a week, Dwight labored hard to provide a home and good meals for the family. Together with Joan they provided a healthy and loving Christian upbringing for their children.

Neighbors often noted Dwight and his children walking on Sunday morning toward the "Meeting Room" for Sunday School, Christian fellowship and Bible teaching. This was a regular practice for Dwight all his life, and he rarely missed a scheduled service.

Dwight always desired to spread the good news of salvation through God's only Son Jesus Christ. This energized him to participate in and eventually to lead in outreaches at the Ridge Home for intellectually challenged. He became effective in sharing the gospel. He often led a chapel service at the Denver Rescue Mission for the last 30 years. In his daily exercise walks he has met and befriended many neighbors, often sharing his faith in Jesus Christ.

Dwight fell into the arms of his Saviour and Lord on January 14, 2015 at the age or 93 after 66 years with Joan in marriage. We think of him often and miss him in so many ways.

Dwight is survived by his wife of 66 years Joan; children, Kathleen (Donald) Morris, David Bruce (Dorothy) Weeks, and Daniel M. Weeks; 14 grandchildren and 24 1/2 great-grandchildren; half-sister, Eva (Ervin) Sutherlund; and brother-in-law, Earl L. Huff. He is preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Denver Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 5206, Denver, CO 80217.

Characteristics of Dwight in a few words.


Forgiving : After he forgave he would never bring it up again. "I love you anyway. I forgive you."

Quiet : Rarely did he speak out of turn or loudly

Devout : Christ was always first in his way of life

Prayerful : Known for long prayers at home he prayed for many by name - one by one - every day.

Consistent : We always knew what he would allow and what he might decide. (Sometimes we would ask mom because we knew what he would say.)

Regimented : He followed his own routine each day from rising to bedtime. Each day of each week had its own variations of the typical. He became uneasy at modifications in the routine.

Faithful : Always there for us and dependable to the 'max' to do what was honoring to the Lord his God

Patient : He would serve and help without complaint. He would wait endlessly for shopping to finish.

Teacher : He enjoyed talking about the things he was competent with. He enjoyed helping people.

Evangelist : He loved the gospel and was not ashamed to gently approach those in his reach.

Mechanic : Still had long time friends coming for services at 93

Healer : Was good at touch therapy and very effectively used reflexology to help many

Healthy : Followed a closely regulated diet and health practices.

Relational : Walked the neighborhood and chatted with people he met often along the way.

Tolerant : Did not push his ideas on anyone though he held firm convictions.



Dwight was :

Faithful : Veteran of WWII : Served all with grace.

Evangelist : An example we needed.

Prayer Warrior : Prayed for us by name.

He will be sorely missed.

To share a memory of Dwight or leave a special condolence message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.