Howard H. Wiese
September 11, 1930 - July 08, 2014
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Howard H. Wiese
September 11, 1930 - July 08, 2014
Obituary
Howard H. Wiese, 83, of Lake Forest, California, died Monday July 8, 2014 in Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, California.
He was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Frieda and George Wiese on September 11, 1930. Howard graduated from Tech High School in Omaha in 1948. He served in the Korean War. In 1956, he married Doris Hoffert-Hansen. Together, they raised their son, Steven R. Hansen. Howard was a devoted employee of the J.C. Penney Co. for 46 years and held a variety of positions.
After he retired from Penney’s in 1990, he worked for Sverdrup Engineering and later for Jacobs Engineering in Irvine, California. Howard also served on the boards of Southern California HCSC Club and the National HCSC Foundation- both are organizations for retired Penney’s managers.
Howard was a long-time member of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in El Toro, California and served as an elder for many years.
Howard is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Ann Hansen of Forsyth, MO and his sister, Karen Houfek of Prague, NE.
Interment will be in Eagle, Colorado at a later date. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospitals.
17 responses to Howard H. Wiese
Don Nelson says:
July 12, 2014
I began work for Howard in 1985 at JCPenney Lakewood. He fostered healthy competition between the members his management team and spurred & supported many of us onto higher positions within the company. A hard working, get-his-hands-dirty average Joe, he was instrumental in my development as a manager and I would not have seen promotion without his help. Howard has never failed to be anything but the first to send us a Christmas Card in mid November – always had a laugh over that. We have maintained our friendship for these many years and he took every encounter to ask about my family and life interests.
Thank You Howard. You will always be remembered.
Lily Lin says:
July 12, 2014
Lit a candle in memory of Howard H. Wiese
Susan Brown Matsumoto says:
July 17, 2014
Howard was a nice man and always was ready to start a conversation on his walks in the neighborhood. He lived down the street from me and almost every morning for the past 12 years I have lived in this neighborhood Howard would take his morning walk. He always had a smile and was always happy to see my dog. In the past few years my dog who just passed away 🙁 wasn’t able to walk long distances so she had a very short walk always before Howard was on his walk. Every morning Howard would ask me where my dog was and why I wasn’t walking her. You could tell he cared about animals and had a kind heart. I would tell him she was slowing down and couldn’t walk that far anymore but he was determined to see her walk with me again. I think now Howard may very well be walking my sweet dog in heaven. 🙂 I will truly miss him and it is hard to imagine every morning not seeing this faithful man walking down our street. He just never gave up and was an inspiration to me and others.Many of the neighbors will miss this special man. Rest in peace Howard. You will always be remembered.
Deb Sargent says:
July 22, 2014
Steve and Ann,
My friend Howard went to heaven to be with Doris (and Cindy the Basenji) – Howard was my sidekick for 13 years – I will “never” miss him because he is eternally embedded in my memory and my heart and nothing can take that away. I loved this man ,as I loved my dad. In fact he was my California dad. He made sure I was ok, he cared, he was my best friend. All I can do is when I think of my friend is smile. We talked a few months ago about my son and I coming out and staying with him. The last time he saw my son was right before Doris passed away – I was so happy they got to meet him and spend time with him. Since they were both like my parents there in Cali it was important to me for them to meet my most important family member. Howard truly amazed me. The man never stopped working – he retired from JC Penney, went to work for Sverdrup, retired from Jacobs-Sverdrup, only to start working at an attorney’s office. Retirement was not in his vocabulary. He always went above and beyond in work and life and friends. As I joked (as only Howard would approve of) God put his foot down – retirement was mandatory – It was time to rest …. and come home. I have so much love and respect for both Howard and Doris I am glad they are together again. Love Deb (Duda) Sargent – formerly of Cali – now living Minnesota.
Christine Lundgren says:
July 31, 2014
I have such fond memories of Howard. I met him when he was in his sixties and had retired from JC Penney. Howard was one of a kind. I supervised him for almost seven years! When I think of Howard it always brings a smile to my face. He was a kind, hard working man who appreciated his family and friends. Anyone who knew him knew how important Doris was to him and his beloved JC Penney family.
Howard would do anything he could to help you. There was many a night that Howard in his station wagon would drop me off at my house. Howard was always interested in my kids and all of the dogs. (We had four Rottweiler’s) Howard would come in and see puppies, or see how the kids were. Howard showed me his heart.
Howard would allow us to take pictures of him and insert him in whatever the current events were of the day. I remember Deb, Howard and I always going to Le Meriden Hotel for the “bringing in of the boujealous” There is a picture somewhere of him and Deb wearing beret’s sitting in front of the Eiffel tower.
Howard was such a strong man, he never wavered in his faith or the love he had for Doris. Howard spoke about his simple upbringing in Nebraska and how he was once the boss of Warren Buffett. Howard loved to tell his stories as well as a good joke.
In the mid ‘90’s there was a real push in California to hire senior people. I had nominated Howard for outstanding senior worker for the state of California. I remember he made it to the finalists and one day they came to Sverdrup to film what his day was like. I remember going up to Los Angeles for the finalist’s lunch. Howard did not win the award from the state of California but he won outstanding co-worker from all of us at Sverdrup daily.
Howard will be missed by all of us who knew Howard and those of us who came to love him.
Christine Lundgren – July 31, 2014.