Michael Paul Weyrich

We are sad to announce the passing of 92 year old Korean War Veteran and visionary developer Michael Paul Weyrich.  Better known as Paul, he was born on his father's 54th birthday on the family farm near Sturgis, South Dakota.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years Helen Weyrich; his sister Gladys Cox; his brother Frank Weyrich; three children: Debbie (Bob) Mathews, Jessie Canaday and, Kraig (Stacy) Weyrich; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Following Paul's schooling at Sturgis High School, he was drafted into the Army in 1952 and was stationed near the 38th Parallel in Korea as a 60 MM gunner.  He served 16 months during the Korean War and earned the Combat Infantry Badge.  After a 31 day voyage on a military ship, CPL Weyrich returned home to South Dakota and bought a TD-18 International Crawler Tractor with his brother and went to work in construction.  Paul's construction work included; leveling fields for oil rigs, building dams, roads, and bridges. He even involved work on the Minuteman Missile Silos around Ellsworth AFB and the rest area outside Lusk, Wyoming.

Paul and Helen were married in 1954 and they moved to Newcastle, Wyoming in 1960, where they built their house and developed four mobile home parks.  He retired from construction in 1971 and went to work for the Weston County School District as the Maintenance Engineer.  His expertise in building/construction was recognized by city leaders and he was appointed to the Newcastle City Planning Commission and helped write new regulations for city zoning and mobile home parks.  After retiring from the school district, he followed his passion for gun collecting and became an award winning Winchester Gun Collector.  Paul also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, cooking on an outdoor campfire, water skiing, fixing broken items, giving the grandchildren rides on a tractor, and playing the slots.

The funeral service will be held on May 1, 2023 at Meridian Mortuary in Newcastle.  Viewing of the casket will be at 10:00 a.m. and the service will start at 11:00 a.m.  Burial service will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D. at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you make a memorial donation to the Newcastle Public School District. Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Meridian Mortuary, 111 S. Railway Ave., Newcastle, WY, 82701 or expressions of sympathy may also be made online at www.meridianmortuary.com.

Cards may be sent to Helen Weyrich C/O Mondell Heights, 106 E Main St., Newcastle, WY 82701