George Weimer became known in the city of West Chicago as the conscience of the community.
Through his weekly column as editor of the West Chicago Press, Mr. Weimer was known to take hard issues head-on, but was most respected for presenting issues that were important to the community in a fair way.
“My father was very quiet in his words, but he spoke loudly with his pen. He always presented both sides,” said his son, Mike.
Mr. Weimer, 93, who was editor of the West Chicago Press for 35 years, died of Parkinson’s disease Sunday, April 28, in Wynscape Heath Center in Wheaton.
“People have told me many times that he was the conscience of the town as it grew,” said his wife of 57 years, Carol. “If he felt strongly about an issue, he would say so.”
Mr. Weimer, who was born in Maywood, moved to West Chicago as a young child. He graduated from West Chicago High School in 1927. In his junior year he began his association with the West Chicago Press. His first job was as a copy boy. He also set type and was a press operator.
In 1942 he enlisted in the Army and served for more than two years overseas in the 19th Engineers Combat Regiment as a water supply specialist.
After the war he returned to the Press and resumed his writing. In 1945 he became editor of the paper.
“The Press was his whole life. He worked there for 51 years,” his son said.
During that time Mr. Weimer became extremely knowledgeable about the city of West Chicago. “He knew everything there was to know about this town, and everybody in the town knew him,” his son added.
In 1972 Mr. Weimer was named Citizen of the Year by the West Chicago Chamber of Commerce. And in 1978 he was chosen VIP of the Year by the VIP Council of Illinois. His son said he was also proud to have been one of four finalists for Editor of the Year by the Illinois Press Association in 1977.
To celebrate the city’s sesquicentennial, a mural by Thomas Mahady was commissioned by the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission to depict famous people and scenes in the community. Mr. Weimer was one of the 17 people depicted in that mural, which hangs in the West Chicago Public Library.
“But my father was not a boastful person. He avoided the limelight. He would much rather be behind the scenes writing from the heart about the people in the limelight,” his son said.
In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Weimer is survived by his daughter, Susan Dickens; two sisters, Beatrice Hunter and Rosemary Welter; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Norris-Walen Funeral Home, 132 Fremont St., West Chicago. Prayers will be said at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home, with mass to follow at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Church, 140 N. Oakwood Ave., West Chicago.
