Donald Weaver

March 28, 1934 - September 10, 2020

Donald Arthur Weaver, 86, Topeka, died September 10, 2020. Don was born March 28, 1934, in Galveston, Texas, the son of Arthur and Helen Valentine Koehler Weaver. His family moved to Topeka when he was a child, and he graduated from Hayden High School. Don studied at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, before earning a degree in accounting at Washburn University in Topeka. Don joined the U.S. Army in 1956, with two years of active duty and four years in the Reserves. He was discharged on October 31, 1962, the day his only daughter was born. Don began his 33-year career with the Santa Fe Railway in 1959. The job took his young family – wife and three children – to Chicago in 1967, then back to Topeka in 1973. He retired from Santa Fe on October 30, 1992. Upon his return to Topeka, Don and family joined St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and he was actively involved in the church the rest of his life. He served for several years as a lay minister, many years as an usher and most recently helped count the tithings for the church. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Don enjoyed the great outdoors, perhaps more than the average accountant. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and boater. He was a craftsman as skilled with power tools as he was with numbers. Don enjoyed collecting railroad memorabilia and refurbishing a variety of items found at garage sales and auctions, especially boats and trailers. He married Mary Helen Hummel on December 26, 1959. They raised three children. Mary Helen preceded Don in death in July 1998. He married Norma Artzer on December 31, 1998. She survives, of the home. Other survivors include two sons, Randy (Deanna) and Doug (Deb), both of Topeka; a daughter, Wendy Jost (Todd), Lehigh, Kansas; two stepsons, Andy Artzer (Jeanne) and Eric Artzer (Marj); 11 grandchildren, Hannah Weaver, Franklin Jost, Sonja Jost, Dakota Weaver, Henli Weaver, Tristan Weaver, Luke Artzer, Dillon Artzer, Elise Artzer, Ethan Artzer and Eli Artzer; and three great-grandchildren, Myles Artzer, Jace Artzer and Axel Artzer. Don was preceded in death by a brother, Johnny Weaver, and a sister, Gloria Byers, both of Topeka. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, September 18, 2020, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2700 SE Virginia Ave, Topeka KS 66605, where visitation will be one-hour prior. Inurnment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distance are required. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, or A&A Medical Transportation, sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614.